The Federal Government has announced $30 million in back pay for social and community services workers in Queensland as new regulations take effect.

 

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Bill Shorten said the Government will support these pay increases by providing an extra $30 million to help hundreds of eligible Queensland SACS employers to meet back pay obligations provided for in the regulations.

 

The new regulations preserve the equal pay rates set by a 2009 decision of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) for workers at up to 316 organisations in the state.

 

“These workers provide critical services to some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” Mr Shorten said.

 

“We are honouring our commitment to ensure that these workers receive the pay rates awarded in 2009 by the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission.”

 

Employers are also required to back pay affected workers employed between 27 March 2011 and 29 February 2012 the difference between the amount actually received during that period, and the amount that would have been payable if their wages had been set by the State award.

 

The regulations cover employees such as those that work with people with disabilities, counselling families in crisis, running homeless shelters and working with victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

 

The regulations give Queensland workers who remained in the federal system following Queensland’s referral the immediate benefit of the QIRC decision.