3,000 Workers Set for Major Pay Rise as Part of Labor’s ‘Same Jobs, Same Pay’ Changes

A Qantas Airlines Boeing 737-800 plane travels down the runway as a Qantas Boeing 717 plane lands at Sydney International Airport on June 7, 2024. DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

Around 3,000 labour hire workers will receive significant pay rises starting on Nov. 1, under the Albanese Labor government’s landmark “Same Jobs, Same Pay” reforms.

Previously, labour hire workers who are employed through an agency but perform identical duties to those directly employed, would not receive the same pay as those working similar roles.

The Same Job, Same Pay aspect of the government’s Closing Loopholes laws, allows labour hire employees to request pay parity based on the main enterprise agreement with full or part-time workers.

Four Fair Work Orders Issued

Effective immediately, four orders were issued by the Fair Work Commission across various industries.

As per a government release, at Batchfire Resources Callide Mine, approximately 320 labour hire workers will see pay rises of up to $20,000 each per year.

Workers employed by Australian Country Choice Production, from two labour hire firms, FIP Group and Task Labour Services, can expect pay increases of up to 25 percent.

Meanwhile, labour hire workers at the South32 Cannington silver and lead mine will enjoy pay hikes of up to 60 percent.

In addition, Qantas is transitioning 2,450 long-haul cabin crew members from subsidiary employment to direct roles under its main enterprise agreement.

The airline has also agreed to support two more Same Job, Same Pay applications, which will benefit an additional 800 workers, aligning their pay rates with those of directly hired cabin crew.

40 More Applications Pending

Currently, over 40 Same Job, Same Pay applications are pending before the Fair Work Commission, suggesting companies will be paying out thousands more workers in sectors like mining, aviation, and meat processing.

“The Albanese Labor government was elected on the promise of getting wages moving, and we are continuing to deliver on this commitment,” said Minister for Workplace Murray Watt.

“These workers are doing the same work, wearing the same uniforms and turning up to the same shifts week after week, yet are paid significantly less than their colleagues.”

Shadow Finance Minister Jane Hume expressed concern that the laws would be additional “red tape” for business.

She confirmed the Liberal-National Coalition would order a review of the laws if they win the next election.