Ombudsman reminds businesses new pay rates for workers employed under an Award will increase on July 1
June 29, 2012
Trucking operators employing workers under an Award have less than two days to adjust their pay rates to comply with the annual wage review decision.
With July 1 approaching, the Fair Work Ombudsman says new minimum rates, allowances, casual loadings and penalty rates will begin when the new financial year kicks off.
Fair Work Australia earlier this month announced a 2.9 percent increase in pay rates for workers employed under an Award.
Increases in minimum pay rates take effect from the first full pay period on or after July 1.
The changes apply to the Road Transport and Distribution Award and the Road Transport (Long Distance Operations) Award.
The Fair Work Ombudsman says employers and workers can use its pay-check tool to determine the rates that will apply them.
There has been a number of recent cases of underpayments in the trucking industry, with Fair Work Ombudsman investigations netting back-payments for drivers in Western Australia, Queensland and NSW.
The Western Australian driver received $8,000 after complaining to the Ombudsman about not receiving his correct wage and leave entitlements. A NSW driver was reimbursed $5,900 after his employer failed to pay the correct hourly rate and meal allowances.
Inspectors found the truck driver from the Gold Coast’s hinterland was owed $9,800 after their investigation revealed his employer did not pay him full penalty rates.
Increases to pay rates coincide with new heavy vehicle charges. The diesel excise will jump 2.4 cents to 25.5 cents per litre on July 1, along with new registration fees.
The cost of registering a semi-trailer truck in most jurisdictions will go from $5,746 to $6,394, while the price of keeping road trains will rise by more than 21 percent. Governments did agree, however, to reduce the price of A-trailers.
The change means a nine-axle B-double will cost $1,301 less at $14,407. B-triple prices will drop $4,526 to $17,707.
Western Australia and the Northern Territory will introduce significantly smaller increases, with the latter also delaying the charges for six months.