The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to scrap its public sector wages cap.
At a time when Victorians are struggling with high inflation and increasing cost-of-living, Victorian workers need higher wages to keep up. Yet the Victorian Labor Government's policy is to keep wages low.
Labor's wages policy prevents public sector workers like teachers, nurses and essential workers from increasing their pay to keep up with rising living costs by capping wage increases to just 1.5%, well below the current inflation rate of 7.8%.
That means that in real terms their wages are actually being cut each year.
Labor's wages cap also has the effect of signalling to private companies that they can keep wages low for their workers too.
The Victorian Greens are pushing Labor to abolish their cap on wage increases right now to ensure Victorians get a fair wage and enough money to keep up with the rising cost-of-living.
As stated by Victorian Greens economic justice spokesperson, Sam Hibbins MP:
"Victorian workers need higher wages to keep up with the rising cost-of-living.
"But it's the Victorian Labor Government's policy to keep wages low.
"We all said thanks to our hardworking essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, but now the government must demonstrate their thanks with higher wages to help Victorians keep up with the rising cost-of-living."
