The SDA's campaign to remove junior rates for retail & fast food workers aged 18 and over
SDA union members just won a historic case in the Fair Work Commission to get young adults a pay rise.
If you work in retail, fast food or pharmacy, join 200,000 Australian workers who support better wages and fairer conditions.
Fair Work rules in SDA’s favour to abolish junior rates for 18-20 year olds in retail, fast food & pharmacy
On 31 March 2026 the Fair Work Commission handed down its decision in the SDA’s Adult Age = Adult Wage case.
A historic win for young workers. The Commission has agreed with the SDA’s case to abolish junior rates for 18, 19 and 20‑year‑olds in the retail, fast food and pharmacy awards. This means young adults working in retail, fast food & pharmacy can no longer be paid less simply because of their age.
The Commission has ruled to phase out junior rates for workers aged 18-20 with 6 months service over the next four years.
Some workers could earn up to almost $10 more per hour depending on your age, whether you’re permanent or casual and when the changes take effect.
If you’re covered by the relevant awards or an SDA-negotiated Enterprise Agreement, this decision will deliver real pay rises.
We ran this case because adults deserve to be paid as adults. Today shows that standing together through your union works.
When will junior rates be abolished for 18-20 year olds?
The Fair Work Commission is now considering a timeline for removing these junior rates in retail, fast food and pharmacy awards. The SDA will be part of this process to ensure younger workers are represented.
If you’re on an SDA-negotiated Enterprise Agreement, you’ll receive further advice from us about how this decision will impact you.
We’re carefully reviewing the full decision now and you’ll receive more information from us about what’s changing and when. If you have questions, your union is here to help.
Thank you to every SDA member who stood with us to get rid of these unfair junior rates for adults – we did it!
Now is the time to get your co-workers to join the SDA too so they can stay updated with all the latest changes.
What is the campaign about?
The SDA has lodged a groundbreaking case in the Fair Work Commission to abolish junior rates of pay for workers aged 18 years and older.
Our case is also seeking to lift the rates of pay for most workers under the age of 18.
For too long, young workers have discriminated against because of their age.
So we’re doing something about it.
Our case will seek to amend the retail, fast food, and pharmacy awards to remove the reduced rate of pay – 70% for 18 years old, 80% for 19 years old, and in fast food and pharmacy the 90% rate for 20-year-olds- so that all adults receive the adult wage.
We also seeking to lift the under 16 years old rate to 50% and the 17 year old to 75%.
If you’re on an Enterprise Agreement that has junior rates and our case is successful, the minimum legal rates will be lifted as well.
The case will be heard by the Fair Work Commission from the 25th – 27th of November 2025.
Our message is clear: If you’re of Adult Age, you should earn an Adult Wage.
How can you support the campaign to lift wages for younger workers?
The SDA can’t do this alone.
We need to send a really strong message to the Fair Work Commission and employers that you support removing junior rates of pay.
Workers of all ages can support our campaign for change.
Junior rates will be abolished for workers aged 18-20 in retail, fast food & pharmacy - your questions answered
The Fair Work Commission agreed with the SDA’s case that junior rates for 18, 19 and 20‑year‑old workers working retail, fast food & pharmacy should be abolished. This will apply to workers who have been employed for more than 6 months.
Adults should be paid the adult wage for the work they do.
The Commission ruled to change the Retail, Fast Food & Pharmacy Awards so that all workers aged 18 and over are paid the full adult rate instead of junior rates for 18-20 year olds.
These changes will be phased in over four years.
This decision affects workers aged 18 to 20 in:
- Retail (General Retail Industry Award)
- Fast food (Fast Food Industry Award)
- Pharmacy (Pharmacy Industry Award)
If you work in these industries and are covered by the relevant awards and have been employed for more than 6 months this decision applies to you.
If you work in these industries but are covered by an SDA-negotiated Enterprise Agreement (for example, at Coles or Woolworths) then you will also receive a pay rise because you cannot be paid less than the relevant Award.
However, the timing of changes to pay for workers covered by an Enterprise Agreement may be different. The SDA is carefully reviewing the decision will provide specific advice to SDA members about how and when this will impact you.
If you don’t know whether you’re covered by an award or an agreement – get in touch with us, we can help.
If you’re not an SDA member, now is the time to join so you get all the details when they happen. You can join the SDA at www.sda.au/why-join.
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Yes, if you’re 18-20 years old working in retail, fast food or pharmacy . Removing junior rates means higher minimum pay rates for workers aged 18–20 covered by the retail, fast food and pharmacy awards who were previously paid less because of their age.
These workers will now transition to be paid 100% of the adult rate of pay if they’ve been employed for more than 6 months. These changes will be phased in over four years.
| General Retail Industry Award, Fast Food Industry Award, Pharmacy Industry Award | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 (and employed by the employer for more than 6 months) | 19 (and employed by the employer for more than 6 months) | 20 (and employed by the employer for more than 6 months) |
| Present rates | 70 % | 80 % | 90 %* |
| New rates | 100% - Full adult rate | 100% - Full adult rate | 100% - Full adult rate |
The Fair Work Commission ruled to phase in these changes over four years.
In their decision, they proposed a timeline to start phasing in wage increases in December 2026 up until July 2029.
They’ve asked for feedback on the proposed timeline and the SDA will be representing workers in this process to make sure your voice is heard – we want fair pay as soon as possible.
The SDA will let members know exact dates and what to expect as soon as they are confirmed.
Make sure you’re an SDA member so you can hear from us about what’s changing and when. You can join at www.sda.au/why-join.
Proposed timeline for abolishing junior rates for 18-20 year olds
*In Retail Award, 20 year old employed for 6 months or less.
First pay period after: General Retail Industry Award, Fast Food Industry Award, Pharmacy Industry Award
Age 18 (and employed by the employer for more than 6 months) 19 (and employed by the employer for more than 6 months) 20* (and employed by the employer for more than 6 months)
Present rates 70 % 80 % 90 %
1-Dec-26 75 % 85 % 95 %
1-Jul-27 80 % 90 % 100% - Full adult rate
1-Dec-27 85 % 95 %
1-Jul-28 90 % 100% - Full adult rate
1-Dec-28 95 %
1-Jul-29 100% - Full adult rate
Fair Work Commission is the independent umpire that decides minimum workplace standards.
As the union for retail, fast food & pharmacy workers, the SDA has standing to lodge an application to change those standards – and we did.
The Fair Work Commission heard the SDA’s case in November 2025 and made a decision on our application – ruling in our favour.
This decision only happened because workers stood together with their union to make a change.
A strong union like the SDA can make all the difference when it comes to your pay and conditions and fighting for fairer wages and entitlements.
If your enterprise agreement that includes junior rates for 18-20 year olds, the minimum pay rates should still increase.
Employers cannot pay below the new minimums once they apply – that means you should receive a pay rise too. However, the timing of these changes may be different to the changes applied to the Awards. The SDA is carefully reviewing the decision and will provide specific advice to SDA members about how and when this will impact you.
If you’re covered by an Enterprise Agreement, you should make sure you’re an SDA member so you can receive important workplace information about your pay and conditions directly from us.
Read more about SDA membership at www.sda.au/why-join.
These changes will be phased in increments over four years instead of all at once to help transition workers to the full adult rate. There’s no reason why your employer should reduce your hours or change your roster to avoid paying you correctly.
Remember, if you’re permanent, your roster should not be changed without consultation first.
If you’re unsure or have any questions, contact us so we can help.
These changes will be phased in increments over four years instead of all at once to help transition workers to the full adult rate. There’s no reason why your employer should reduce your hours or change your roster to avoid paying you correctly.
Employers have made these baseless claims before —about not employing women when equal pay for women was put in place and or about not putting staff on when any increases to penalty rates occurred.
SDA union members made this change happen and supported the SDA’s case in the Fair Work Commission.
The SDA works to improve your pay and conditions at work and we also help you if there’s an issue at work – whether it’s being paid correctly, a roster issue or bullying and harassment.
We’re always on hand to answer any workplace questions you have – big or small.
Read more about the benefits of SDA union membership at www.sda.au/why-join.
No. Australia is out of step with many comparable countries. Here are some examples:
New Zealand: Most workers aged 16 and over must be paid the adult minimum wage.
Canada: Most provinces do not have youth wages, or they are very limited.
Belgium: Youth rates have been restricted or phased down significantly.
South Korea: Does not use broad age‑based junior wage systems like Australia.
Australia is one of the few countries where adult can legally be paid less just because of their age.
Because:
- The cost of living doesn’t change based on your age
- Young workers often have years of experience by the time they’re 18
- Paying adults less because of age is unfair and outdated
- Being part of a union means standing up for better wages and fairer conditions
As part of the SDA’s case in the Fair Work Commission, we applied to increase the rates of pay for workers under 18 too.
Unfortunately, the Fair Work Commission ruled against making any changes to pay for workers under 18.
However, the SDA is consistently working to lift wages for all workers including in this year’s Annual Wage Review. We’re calling for a 5% increase to award wages for all workers.