For years, young workers have been treated like adults in almost every part of life – except when it comes to their pay.
At 18, you can vote, drive, drink and take on adult responsibilities. You pay adult prices for rent, fuel, groceries and bills.
So why should your pay packet be any different?
After more than a decade of SDA campaigning to scrap unfair junior rates, the Fair Work Commission has agreed to phase out junior rates for eligible 18, 19 and 20-year-old workers covered by the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards.
If you’re doing the same work, you should be paid the same. It’s as simple as that.
It’s been a long time coming
The SDA has been campaigning to scrap junior rates for adults for more than a decade. In 2014, we secured the full adult rate for 20-year-olds in the retail industry.
Despite challenges and setbacks, including the disruption caused by COVID-19, we kept fighting for equality. In 2024, the SDA took our case to the Fair Work Commission.
Until now, an 18-year-old could be paid just 70% of the adult rate, a 19-year-old 80% and a 20-year-old 90%.
Young workers do real work
The reality of working in retail, fast food and pharmacy doesn’t match the arguments used to justify junior rates.
Young workers open and close stores, train others, serve customers, manage busy shifts and take on significant responsibility from day one. Many have years of experience by the time they turn 18.
They do real work and carry real responsibility — so they deserve to be paid fairly for it.
Young SDA members shared these experiences during our Fair Work Commission case, showing the real impact junior rates have on everyday life.
As one young worker put it:
“We work the same shifts, do the same tasks, have the same pressures – but we still have to work more hours just to keep up.”
A major pay rise for young workers
The first 5% pay increase is coming in December, with further increases phased in until eligible workers reach the full adult rate.
For some 18-year-old workers, the changes could ultimately mean an increase of up to 42% in their pay.
That’s not loose change. It’s a meaningful increase that can make a real difference to a worker’s pay packet.
See the table below for the full schedule of increases.
What happens next?
The changes won’t happen immediately. The Fair Work Commission has set a four-year phase-in period, with rates rising gradually until eligible young workers receive the full adult rate.
The SDA will stay involved every step of the way, pushing to make sure the changes are implemented properly, as quickly as possible, and that workers receive the full benefit.
If you are covered by an Enterprise Agreement, we’ll keep you updated about how the changes apply to you.
Who won this? You!
Most importantly, this win belongs to the people who made it happen.
It belongs to the young workers who spoke up, those who gave evidence, and the SDA members who backed the campaign, talked to their co-workers and stood together.
