Employers can pay youngsters aged below 21 less than the minimum wage. But some say it is not a fair deal and are pushing for equal pay.
When Jayda got her first pay cheque she was really excited. Then, she looked more closely at her hourly rate."When I first started, I was part time," she says.But youngsters such as Jayda can be paid less if they are on what is known as a junior rate. ACTU assistant secretary Joseph Mitchell says the practice is unfair.
Junior rates apply to 75 awards, including those with high levels of young workers such as fast food, hospitality, and retail outlets.For example, at Woolworths and Coles, workers have to be 20 to receive the adult rate. At Bunnings, workers have to be 18 to receive the base rate. "So many young people are working just as hard as everyone else in the workplace, but getting paid sometimes half, sometimes 60, sometimes 70 per cent of what a full adult does," Mr Mitchell says.
"Without these rates, these young people may otherwise struggle to compete against older, more experienced applicants," he says. "This rate allows people to get their foot in the door … and paying them at an adult rate may discourage small business owners from employing younger people, which is a shame.
"If you are doing the same sort of things as the and if you get the job done the same, then it should be the same pay.
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