New three-year wage increase schedule approved for Food Services Progressive Wage Model (PWM).

The Government has accepted recommendations to implement a phased increase in baseline monthly gross wages for over 53,000 food services workers. The new schedule runs from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2029, raising the entry-level requirement from $2,080 to $2,220 in July 2026, with subsequent annual increases reaching $2,500 by 2028.

Why it mattersEmployers in the food services sector must adjust payroll and budgeting to comply with the new mandatory wage floors effective 1 July 2026.