Pay

Pay Secrecy

These new rights empower workers to talk about their wages. That means you can't get into trouble for talking about your pay or asking your workmates about theirs.

The gender pay gap

What's the difference between equal pay and the gender pay gap? How do you find out if you're being paid less than your male counterparts? We answer these questions and more.

Payslips and Record-Keeping

Payslips and accurate record keeping are essential to protecting workers from wage theft.

Deductions and Overpayment

Money that is taken out of your pay by your employer before you receive it is known as a deduction. Deductions are only legal if: If you are under 18, one of your parents or your guardian must agree to the deduction in writing – even if the award or agreement allows for them. All deductions must be clearly noted on your payslip and on your wages record. What is not allowed The rules covering deductions are strict. There are many things that your employer cannot do: Legitimate deductions Your employer may have a legitimate reason for wanting...

Unpaid Work

All employees are entitled to pay and conditions under the Fair Work Act. In most cases, it is illegal to ask employees to do unpaid work. But there are some circumstances where unpaid work is allowed under the law. This includes: A vocational placement as part of an education or training course Undertaking work placements under a Commonwealth employment program Volunteering for a not-for-profit organisation Unpaid trials Sometimes employers ask job applicants to undergo a work trial. This is to see if the applicant has the skills needed to perform the job. Often these trials are unpaid –...

Underpayment and wage theft

Underpayment means being paid less than what you are entitled to. Depending on where you work, this can mean being paid less than you are entitled to under the relevant Award or agreement, or less than the national minimum wage. Deliberate underpayment is known as wage theft. Underpayment and wage theft are rife across Australian workplaces: research has found that two-thirds of workers in Australia are not receiving their full salary, and workers are losing up to $1.35 billion dollars to wage theft every year. Underpayment and wage theft can take many forms, including the following: Deliberate wage...

Penalty Rates and Allowances

Penalty rates and allowances are extra payments made on top of your regular wage. They are intended to make sure that you are being compensated for working at inconvenient times or under dangerous or unpleasant conditions. There are many different reasons why you might be entitled to be paid either penalty rates, allowances, or both. Penalty Rates Penalty rates are extra payments that you receive on top of your regular wage. They are intended to compensate you for hours that you spend working at inconvenient times, like when you work overtime, at night, on the weekend or on a public...

Minimum Wage in Australia

As of the 1 July 2025, the minimum wage is $24.95 per hour. Did you know that union members are the biggest reason that the minimum wage goes up, and why Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world?