Fair Work Commission

Overview

Fair Work Australia's Minimum Wages and Research Branch is required to conduct research as part of the annual wage review.

The research program for the Annual Wage Review 2011-12 was finalised in a statement on 22 November 2011 following a process where interested parties were invited to submit proposals.

In undertaking the research program, the Minimum Wages and Research Branch consults a Minimum Wage Research Group comprising a chair from the branch and representatives nominated by:

• Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
• Australian Industry Group (Ai Group)
• Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
• Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU)
• Australian Government
• State and Territory Governments.

In addition to research projects, statistical reporting is also undertaken on a range of data relevant to annual wage reviews. This work will be published separately to the research reports.

Research reports published for the 2011-12 review

• 1/2012 – Award-reliant small businesses (PDF 1.54mb)
• 2/2012 – Analysing modern award coverage using the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006: Phase 1 report (PDF 565kb)
• 3/2012 – Award reliance and differences in earnings by gender (PDF 1.02mb)
• 4/2012 – Higher classification / professional employee award reliance qualitative research: Interim report (PDF 652kb)

Research report summaries

Award-reliant small businesses

Economic Research Team, Minimum Wages and Research Branch, Fair Work Australia

It is anticipated that, subject to data limitations, the project will include:

• a review of relevant Australian and international literature
• a general data analysis of the characteristics of small businesses over time
• an exploration of the characteristics and performance of small award-reliant firms and their employees
• the potential impact of minimum wage increases on small award-reliant businesses
• an elaboration of data limitations and their impact on the study of the effects of minimum wage adjustments on small businesses.

Award-reliance

Workplace Relations Research Team, Minimum Wages and Research Branch, Fair Work Australia

This first phase of this project will investigate modern award reliance by considering whether modern award coverage can be mapped to the Class/4-digit level industry classifications contained in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006. The project will also explore the extent to which any ‘map’ produced could be used to facilitate analysis of data on award reliance in relation to selected modern awards. A second phase of research for this project will involve, to the extent possible, a comprehensive mapping exercise.

Workplace Relations Research Team, Minimum Wages and Research Branch, Fair Work Australia

This project will provide in-depth qualitative analysis of the factors leading to, and resulting from, award wage reliance among a collection of workers in higher award classification/professional employment. The objectives of the research will be met by examining the experiences of higher classification award wage-reliant workers, and will have a particular focus on professionals. Data collection and analysis will occur over two phases that will assist in informing the design of a quantitative survey of award wage reliance.

Extent and composition of award reliance by gender

Safety Net Research Team, Minimum Wages and Research Branch, Fair Work Australia

This research will analyse Australian data on award reliance and equal remuneration issues. The research will include published and unpublished data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Research to be finalised after the 2011-12 review

Award-reliance

Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney in collaboration with ORC International

This project will primarily examine national system organisations in which at least one employee has their pay set at the specified award rate. The key objective of the study is to understand the mix or ‘categories’ of such employees and, where possible, their location on award classification scales. A particular focus of the research will be to identify professionals and other employees on higher award classifications whose pay is set at the specified award rate. The study will consist of a quantitative survey of such organisations. Data will be gathered on the size and structure of these organisations, the nature of employment arrangements within these organisations as well as information on bargaining activity within them.

Minimum wages and their role in the process and incentive to bargain

Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney

This project will examine how minimum wage increases impact on over award wages and the incentive to bargain. The study will include enterprise case studies, the content analysis of enterprise agreements, and the generation and statistical analysis of workplace survey data. This multi-method approach will be used to investigate the motivations, processes and outcomes of wage setting at the workplace level, and examine the role that the minimum wages increases play in shaping agreement-making and over award wage determination.

Previous research

Research proposals