Many aged care workers may wait until 2026 for full pay increase as Albanese government requests phased implementation

Commonwealth requests Fair Work Commission phase in full 23% increase over two years to prevent workforce shortages elsewhere

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Aged care workers should wait until January 2026 for the full 23% pay rise ordered by the Fair Work Commission, according to the Albanese government.

The commonwealth has requested that the commission phase in the increase over two years, from January 2025 and 2026, to prevent “large one-off wage increases” that would add to workforce shortages elsewhere in the economy.

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