Australia Announces 3 Worker Groups Not Covered by Full Minimum Wage Requirements

• The Australian Workers' Union has published the national minimum wage rate effective 1 July 2025, alongside the conditions attached to it
• Australia set its national minimum wage at $24.95 (N33,570.22) per hour, but three specific categories of workers are exempt from this floor
• The AWU urged any worker who suspects they are being underpaid to reach out to a union delegate immediately

Australia's national minimum wage came into sharper focus after the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) published a clear breakdown of who earns it, who enforces it, and who falls outside its protection.

As of 1 July 2025, the minimum wage for Australian workers stands at $24.95 (N33,570.22) per hour, or $948 (N1,275,534) for a standard 38-hour working week. The AWU confirmed that paying an employee below this rate is illegal and that the figure represents an absolute floor regardless of the nature of the work being performed.

Read also

Canada announces new work permit rules, expands access for foreign workers

3 categories exempt from Australia's minimum wage

Despite the blanket protection, the AWU's guidance identifies three groups of workers who are not entitled to the full national minimum wage:

1. Covers employees under the age of 21, who may legally receive lower rates under Australian workplace rules.
2. Covers workers on the Supported Wage System, a scheme designed for employees with disabilities whose productive capacity may be assessed as lower than average.
3. Apprentices and trainees, who are often on structured pay scales that increase as they progress through their training.

Outside these three categories, no employer has the legal authority to pay a worker less than $24.95 per hour.

AWU urges workers to know their rights

The union's guidance was direct in its message to employees who suspect they are being underpaid. The AWU advised workers to contact their workplace delegate or, if they do not already have union representation, to join the AWU directly.

Read also

UAE announces minimum monthly salary for workers across 9 professional levels

The publication serves as both an informational resource and a call to action, reminding Australian workers that the minimum wage is not a suggestion but a legal requirement, and that support is available to those who believe their employer is falling short of it.

UAE announces minimum salary for workers

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation classifies workers into nine professional levels based on international occupational standards.

The ministry published the recognised job categories, ranging from legislators and executives to workers in simple professions.

Source: Legit.ng