Fed: Living wage case begins in AIRC

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Fed: Living wage case begins in AIRC

MELBOURNE, April 3 AAP - An employer group today said the ACTU call for a $25 a weekpay raise for Australia's low-paid workers was unaffordable.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) will tell the living wage hearingin the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) that the unions request is excessive.

ACCI Industrial Workplace Policy Director Peter Anderson urged the commission to takea moderate approach and said a $10 a week pay rise was adequate.

But unions this year said it was time to show courage and to let low paid workers sharein Australia's buoyant economy.

ACTU secretary Greg Combet said the AIRC had been excessively cautious about the impactof the GST last year when it awarded a $13 a week pay rise for workers on the minimumaward wage.

This year was time for them to be bullish, he said.

"Last year's $13 per week rise represented a real wages cut for workers," he said.

Retail worker Enni Taylor said $25 would make all the difference to her grocery bill.

Ms Taylor, who works 15-20 hours on $12 an hour to raise three children, told reporterstoday she had a husband who also worked and she was among the better off.

"I'm not that poor, there are a lot of people, especially single mothers, raising childrenon $12 an hour, can you imagine that," she said.

The ACTU opened their verbal argument today telling the commission their material:

* demonstrated the financial needs of low paid workers;

* showed buoyant economic conditions;

* gave evidence the $25 a week rise would have a negligible economic effect.

The hearing continues.

AAP jmw/szp/jlw/jmd

KEYWORD: WAGE HEARING