The Expert Panel of the Fair Work Commission has handed down its Annual Wage Review 2020-21 Decision. Key elements of the decision include:

• Award minimum wages and the National Minimum Wage will be increased by 2.5 per cent.
• The minimum wage increase is operative on different dates for different awards, as follows:
• For most awards, the minimum wage increase is operative from the first full pay period that starts on or after 1 July 2021;
• For some (but not all) awards in the hospitality, food services, retail, arts, recreation, aviation, tourism and racing industries, the minimum wage increase is operative from the first full pay period that starts on or after 1 November 2021; and
• For the General Retail Industry Award 2020, the minimum wage increase is operative from the first full pay period that starts on or after 1 September 2021.
• The National Minimum Wage will be increased to $772.60 per week or $20.33 per hour, operative from the first full pay period that starts on or after 1 July 2021.
• Junior, apprentice and trainee wage rates will be adjusted proportionately.
• Wage related allowances and expense related allowances will be increased in accordance with the usual formulas.

Over the next few weeks, Ai Group will distribute a Compliance Advice on individual modern awards setting out the new wage rates and allowances once these are determined by the Fair Work Commission.