Like national chocolate sales, the minimum wage has also risen this Easter weekend. Now sitting 75 cents higher at $16.50 an hour.
The rise is part of the plan to have wages lifted to a living wage of $20 by 2021.
In addition to the minimum wage, the ‘training’ and ‘starting-out’ wages have also risen to $13.20 an hour.
According to government statements, the increase would benefit about 164,000 workers and their families, lifting wages throughout the economy by $129 million a year.
Sitting now at $16.50, a full-time worker would be earning $660 a week, or $34,320 before tax. Companies who pay their staff a living wage would see workers sitting at $42,000 a year before tax, or $20.20 an hour.
As the cost of living continues to grow, minimum wage should raise to reflect that.
The minimum wage rose from $15.25 to $15.75 on April 1 of last year.
