More than half a million children work in Australia, most of them in fast food, retail and hospitality.
However, they have little protection from harassment, sexual and otherwise, from adults working alongside them.
Across the country they are few requirements for adult workers to get working with children checks.
The most recent survey by the Australian Human Rights Commission found that in the past five years 47 percent of workers aged between 15 and 17 had experienced sexual harassment in the workplace.
As a report from the McKell Institute commissioned by the SDA notes: “There are may situations where children work with adult supervisors. A 16-year old for example, may be required to stack shelves in a supermarket with only adult colleagues present.”
SDA is aware of dozens of examples of working children who have been subject to sexual and other abuse, most recently the manager of a Perth fast food restaurant assaulting two girls, aged 15 and 16, one while he was on bail.
SDA is urging Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus to put this obvious gap in laws relating to protection of minors on the agenda for the Council of Attorneys-General.
Quotes from Gerard Dwyer, National Secretary the SDA:
“If it’s a requirement for the lollipop man at a school zebra crossing or the coach of children’s footy or netball teams to have a working with children check so it should be for adults working in fast food, retail and hospitality.”
“The South Australian government is to be congratulated for taking the lead in plugging this glaring loophole in child safety laws. The other states and territories should not hesitate to follow suit.”
“Employers gain massive financial advantage from employing children at far lower rates of pay than adults. Ensuring they have working with children checks for their adult employees is a reasonable requirement.”
You can read the full McKell Institute report here.
Gerard Dwyer is available for comment.
Contact: Jim Middleton 0418 627066