This year, under the auspices of the Australian Retailers Association, young people as young as 13 may be selling Christmas gifts and pouring coffee as part of a scheme to address significant labor shortages.
Paul Zahra, the executive director of the Australian Retailers Association, criticized the disparities in state and territorial rules and urged for unified legislation that would let teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 to work with “reasonable” restrictions.
To prevent their education from suffering, this would include refraining from working during class time.
According to Mr. Zahra, there is potential to harmonize frameworks around hiring teenagers for their first retail employment.
There may be a need for teens as young as 13 to address labor shortages in the retail industry.
However, there are limitations on the kinds of jobs that may be done and the hours that can be worked in NSW.
The minimum age for part-time or casual employment in Victoria, south of the border, is 15, with the exception of the entertainment sector or family companies.
Queensland kids may begin working part-time jobs at the age of 13, but if they are under 16 they must have parental permission.
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The possibility to provide clarity and consistency for students who want to work a limited number of hours on weekends, holidays, and nights without interfering with their education is provided by the nationwide variance about the legal working age for students.
Belinda Clarke, president of the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association, called a consistent strategy a win-win situation.
In order to address the labor deficit, she added, “We need to start turning to smart and realistic answers.”
“A uniform minimum age to work throughout the whole nation would not only assist companies with the staffing problem we’re now having, but it would also help set up Australia’s young for the future with the skills and experience essential,” the author writes.
A national consistency over the minimum working age so more willing and able young workers to help fill labour gaps
However, Gerard Dwyer, secretary of the retail workers’ union SDA expressed concerns about the proposal because it could lower labour costs.
‘There are protective rostering provisions in place in some states to ensure minors are not rostered on late shifts – the motivation for these provisions are health and safety and not negatively impacting education,’ Mr Dwyer said
He believes the industry would be better off maximising the utilisation of existing staff, which would slash costs for businesses.
Mr Zahra has lodged a submission for national consistency with the federal government’s upcoming jobs summit.
His submission also calls for the mobilisation of more mature age workers by doubling the amount pensioners can earn before their payments are affected
‘It’s critical we don’t waste this opportunity and commit ourselves to bold reforms that will accelerate Australia’s post-pandemic economic recovery,’ Mr Zahra said.
‘There are some items on the summit agenda that should be quick-wins.
‘This must be balanced with the upskilling and training of our existing talent.
‘While there’s an urgent need to fill gaps in the labour market for frontline roles, we also need to prioritise expanding the pool of skilled labour to manage through the ongoing state of disruption.’
Federal MP Anika Wells has told the Today show that working at 13 is ‘too young’.
‘The key issue in this country certainly is in my patch,’ Ms Well said of her electorate Lilley, northeast of Brisbane.
‘It is a complex problem that needs a considered solution. We will have to pull all the levers.’
Earlier this week, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told parliament that the state was struggling to fill job vacancies.
‘Our economy now has more jobs than workers to fill them,’ Ms Palaszczuk said on Tuesday.
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There is a dire need for more than 40,000 retail employees nationally, some of which might be supplied by teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15.
The retail sector has the most openings, and the ARA estimates that over 40,000 people are required to fill the gaps.
Before their peak seasons, the hospitality and retail sectors are also lamenting a labor shortfall brought on by a lack of migrant workers.
In order to recruit the hundreds of employees they need, Sydney Restaurant Group is providing a $5000 sign-on incentive across all of its locations.
Owner Bill Drakopoulos told 9 News, “We’re seeking for chefs and cooks, kitchen workers and waiters and sommeliers, barmen, bar attendants – the complete range.”
A more plausible approach, according to deputy prime minister Richard Marles, is to focus on the opposite end of the population rather than sending children to work.
Many individuals have pondered about the relationship between working into old age and how the pension system should function, and I have no doubt that more will come out with ideas, Marles said