Employment Protection Minister Michelle Roberts has announced plans to increase the wages of state school cleaners and gardeners by 12.5 per cent over three years.
The full text of a ministerial announcement is pasted below
The State Government has announced a wage increase that will bring some of the State's lowest paid workers in line with their public sector counterparts.
Employment Protection Minister Michelle Roberts said the wage increase of 12.5 per cent would be delivered over three years, with an additional $53.75 paid over the same period of time.
"The first increase of 4.5 per cent, plus approximately $18, will be retrospectively paid from January 1, 2007 for cleaners, gardeners and other workers covered by the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union", Mrs Roberts said.
"This will mean that some of the State's lowest paid workers will be paid the same as their counterparts, such as those in the State's public hospitals."
The Minister said this group of workers was made up predominantly of women who were single parents and sole income earners for their families.
"Today's outcome demonstrates the State Government's commitment to looking after and protecting some of our most vulnerable workers and providing them with equitable pay," she said.
Mrs Roberts said the agreement covered approximately 2,000 workers.