Retail pay in South Australia is all about to change.
Penalty rates for working on Saturdays will be abolished, while Sundays will be halved in exchange for a higher base rate of pay and proposed improved conditions for employees.
The Australian Retail Association (ARA) has welcomed the decision.
ARA executive director, Russel Zimmerman, believes that penalty rates have been a longstanding issue for Australian retail and that the changes could bring about new opportunities for employment growth.
"The ARA welcomes any move that better aligns penalty rates with the modern retail industry.
"Changes like this allow businesses to respond to their customers needs, rather than having to try to fit their allocation of labour to an antiquated system.
"There is a real opportunity here to support the struggling retail sector and stimulate jobs growth.
"In order to create more employment opportunities for Australians, retail wages need to be flexible.
"We are hopeful that this agreement has a flow-on effect across Australia.”
ARA have been working with Shop Distributive and Allied Employees’ Association (SDA) on Fair Work agreements.