The Daily Aus The young Aussies being underpaid
Jul 17, 2025
In this episode, Tom Dillon, a Research Fellow at the Centre for Employment and Labour Relations Law, reveals alarming findings about underpayment among young workers in Australia. A study shows that one in three young employees may be underpaid, with many earning as little as $10 an hour. The discussion covers the legal complexities faced by these workers, including unpaid overtime and the stigmas surrounding gender and socio-economic disparities. Dillon also shares insights on how to improve workplace rights and highlights the challenges young workers face in asserting them.
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Widespread Underpayment Among Youth
- One in three young Australian workers likely experience underpayment or exploitation even when considering junior wage rates.
- Issues include pay below $10/hour, unpaid overtime, unpaid work done, banned breaks, unpaid trial shifts, and alternative payment forms like food.
Workplace Exploitation Details Exposed
- 43% of young workers did unpaid work while 36% were denied entitled breaks and 24% missed out on superannuation.
- Nearly 10% were paid in food or products, showing exploitation beyond just money.
Power Imbalances Hurt Young Workers
- Power imbalances and lack of rights knowledge make young workers vulnerable to exploitation.
- Many young workers aren’t aware of their legal workplace rights or how to claim them.