According to the ACTU, since the government last delayed the increase of superannuation from 9.5 per cent to 12 percent on the promise of higher wages, Australia has actually seen record-low increases.
Even before the pandemic hit, Australians’ real wage growth was less than 0.5 per cent since the super freeze started.
The union said failure to lift rates will lose more than $14.1 billion in super a year if the increase is cut, with the average person losing around $1,630 in savings a year.
ACTU president Michele O’Neil said increasing the superannuation guarantee won’t stop workers receiving a higher wage, with delays just resulting in poorer outcomes in retirement.
“If Scott Morrison’s answer on how to manage the pandemic is to rob workers of a decent retirement, he’s got it all wrong,” Ms O’Neil said.
“Since the government last delayed the increase in super from 9 to 12 per cent on the promise of higher wages, we’ve seen record-low wage growth.
The union boss pointed out that Australia should be looking at it’s economic future post the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of focusing on punishing workers today.
“This is asking working people to believe in the same fantasy that Tony Abbott used the last time this government stopped workers getting their super increase. It was false then, and it’s false now. There is no evidence that employers will pass on one cent of unpaid super to workers in wages,” Ms O’Neil concluded.
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