The British Low Pay Commission and the Proposed Australian Fair Pay Commission Download

Description:

The Federal government’s decision to overturn Australia’s century old system of wage determination, and replace it with a ‘Fair Pay Commission’ supposedly modelled on the system introduced by the Blair government, makes a focus on the British system timely.  In May 2005, announcing some details of the proposed industrial relations changes, Workplace Relations Minister Andrews commented on the government’s responsibility to the unemployed as well as to the maintenance of the minimum wage.  He said, ‘the UK Low Pay Commission would appear to have been striking the right balance between the needs of the low paid and unemployed.  Since 1999 the minimum wage in the UK has increased by over 30%’ (Andrews, 2005).  So looking at the background to the introduction of the British minimum wage, and the subsequent impact of the minimum wage, may indicate what the policy proposals for Australia portend.  We can also examine similarities between the British system and the Australian proposal, and whether claims of similarity or ‘modelling’ by the Federal government are reasonable.

Submitted On:

26 Mar 2007

Submitted By:

admin (admin)

File Date:

26 Mar 2007

File Author:

Robyn May

File Version:

v1

File Size:

119.68 Kb

File Type:

pdf

Downloads:

97