The majority of businesses can afford to increase workers’ superannuation by $1 a day per employee, as there has not been a significant wage rise in years, according to a super body.
The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) has said the National Accounts data reinforced the need for the legislated increase in the super guarantee (SG).
In the June quarter 2020, corporate profits were up 15% (16% higher than the corresponding quarter last year) while wages and salaries were down 2.5%, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.
Excluding the mining sector, the quarterly increase in corporate profits was the largest in almost two decades, and the ASX200 had risen 16% over the same period.
ASFA chief executive, Dr Martin Fahy, said: “Once again we see clear evidence that the share of income accruing to business is ballooning while hard pressed workers face the bleak reality of weaker wages for longer.
“At $1 a day per employee, the increase in superannuation is affordable for the majority of businesses and is now critical to allow workers to catch up, given they haven’t seen a significant wage rise in years, and with little possibility of higher wages on the horizon.
“Only the scheduled increase in the superannuation guarantee will provide workers with a pay rise next year and help to address the structural imbalances that continue to occur between fat profits and flat wages.”
Michael Lovett, who left the investment firm just three months after launching its Vanguard Super offering, has taken up a chief executive role at an Australian asset manager.
The Central Bank of Ireland has granted the approval of Equity Trustees’ exit from its Irish operations, with the transaction expected to be complete on 30 April.
Super returns continued to climb in March, raising hopes of delivering double-digit returns by June depending on the performance of this next quarter.
The dedicated super fund for emergency services and Victorian government employees is under fire for unpaid entitlements to transport employees, which could exceed $40 million.
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