from YAPRap May 2006
by Debra Jopson & Lisa Pryor
Youth advocates have called on governments to fund a NSW watchdog dedicated to helping young people with employment problems, in line with other states.
"We need a one-stop shop for young workers where you can get job assistance and legal advice," said Sharmila Sriskanda, a coordinator for Young Christian Workers.
The calls follow a Herald investigation which has found that workers younger than 25 in low-skilled casual jobs who very rarely belong to unions are often subjected to unsafe working conditions, shonky contracts, low pay and even a requirement that they sometimes work unpaid.
The policy officer for the Youth Action & Policy Association, John Ferguson, said: "I would support [a job watchdog] 100 per cent. From the research we have done, the majority of young people go to the boss for their information. That is a bit scary given the power the boss now has."
The coordinator of Queensland's Young Workers Advisory Service, Aaron Allegretto, said there was a gap in NSW, which had no similar organisation to advise and advocate for people younger than 25.
For instance, after a tip-off from a school guidance counsellor, his organisation is helping five boys who signed contracts to collect shopping trolleys for about $5 an hour with a clause that said they could have to pay up to $5000 if they damaged property.
It would be timely for NSW to consider following Queensland and Victoria's lead, said Zana Bytheway, executive director of Job Watch, a state and federally funded Melbourne legal rights centre for workers.
Young people were often reluctant to seek help, and the potential for them to be exploited was even greater under the new federal workplace laws, she said.
Predominantly mothers called on behalf of their children angry about work conditions, she said. The complaints included underpayment, unsafe conditions, long work hours and young people working on a trial basis for no pay.
Notes
- First published April 26, 2006 in the Sydney Morning Herald. Reproduced with permission. For copyright details contact SMH.
- Opinions expressed are the author's and not necessarily YAPA's.
