Fair Work Commission rules to reduce Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for hospitality and retail workers
This morning the Fair Work Commission has ruled that the Sunday and public holiday penalty rates will be reduced for full-time and part-time workers in the hospitality, retail and fast food industries, the Fair Work Commission has ruled.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) said nearly half a million people, including some of the country’s lowest-paid workers, would lose up to $6,000 a year.
The commission said the cuts would lead to increased services and trading hours on public holidays and Sundays.
But it acknowledged the changes would cause hardship to some workers.
Sunday pay rates for full-time and part-time hospitality workers will be cut from 175 per cent of their standard wage to 150 per cent.
In retail, Sunday wages will be reduced from 200 per cent of the standard rate to 150 per cent for full-time and part-time staff.
For fast food workers, Sunday pay for some full-time and part-time employees — classed as “level one” workers — will be cut from 150 per cent to 125 per cent.