With some businesses electing not to pass on the superannuation guarantee (SG) in addition to current take home pay, analysis from the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) shows that businesses can afford to pay.
The SG rate would increase from 9.5% to 10% from 1 July and Dr Martin Fahy, ASFA chief executive, said the average Australian worker had not shared in ballooning business profits over the last twenty year.
"The long-overdue increase in the SG will go some way to address the structural imbalances that continue to occur between fat profits and flat wages,” Fahy said.
ASFA analysis showed that the Australian economy was currently in the midst of a strong and broad-based recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, with labour market slack down to around pre-crisis levels and expected to continue.
In its recent decision to increase minimum wages in all modern awards, the Fair Work Commission identified Australia’s strong economic recovery from the COVID-19 shock, as well as high business profits, in justifying its decision.
"The Fair Work Commission considered the July increase in the SG and concluded that Australian employers can afford to pay workers the SG rise in full and increase their take-home pay," Fahy said.
The super fund has announced Gregory has been appointed to its executive leadership team, taking on the fresh role of chief advice officer.
The deputy governor has warned that, as super funds’ overseas assets grow and liquidity risks rise, they will need to expand their FX hedge books to manage currency exposure effectively.
Super funds have built on early financial year momentum, as growth funds deliver strong results driven by equities and resilient bonds.
The super fund has announced that Mark Rider will step down from his position of chief investment officer (CIO) after deciding to “semi-retire” from full-time work.