With the Federal Election in 2025, young people across the country are talking about the issues that matter to them.
Young workers make up a significant and important part of the workforce especially in retail and fast food.
Regardless of who is in government – the SDA has and always will look out for young workers who deserve to be safe and treated fairly at work.
That’s why the SDA has several initiatives designed to improve the wages and conditions of young retail and fast food workers including:
Adult Age = Adult Wage: getting rid of unfair junior rates that pay adults less than the adult wage
The SDA is campaigning to remove junior rates for 18-20 year old workers in retail, fast food and pharmacy. It’s simply not fair to be an adult but paid less than the adult wage. You don’t get a discount on your rent or groceries why should you be paid less? Our case is currently in the Fair Work Commission and will be heard later this year.
Protecting young workers from sexual harassment
The SDA is lobbying the government to ensure retail and fast-food workers have ‘working with children’ checks before they can work with under 18s. Adults are not allowed to work alongside children without a working with children check in other industries – why is it allowed in retail and fast food where many workers are under 18? We also commissioned a McKell Institute report in 2024 to highlight this issue.
Super on every dollar, even if you’re under 18
The SDA is campaigning to ensure that you receive superannuation on every dollar. Right now, if you’re under 18 you only get super if you work more than 30 hours a week. This needs to be fixed – many retail and fast-food workers start working long before they’re 18 – they should be paid super just like everyone else.
Defending penalty rates and protecting your pay
The SDA has and always will protect your penalty rates. Many young workers work nights or on weekends and public holidays – it’s an important part of your pay. You deserve to be fairly compensated for working these unsociable hours. We defend penalty rates in the Fair Work Commission and now the Labor Government have committed to protecting penalty rates in legislation if they’re re-elected.
These are four practical initiatives that will help provide better, safer and fairer workplaces for young workers.
