Wage Inspectorate Victoria has launched a regional campaign to raise awareness of employment laws that protect young workers.
Backing the campaign, Minister for Industrial Relations, Tim Pallas said it would ensure that hospitality businesses that employed workers under 15 years of age were providing safe workplaces.
“The business education campaign will focus on fast-food, restaurant and café employers in Phillip Island, Drouin, Warragul, Wonthaggi, Inverloch and surrounds,” Mr Pallas said.
“The workplace regulator has written to employers in these regions to inform them of the campaign and that they may be one of 150 businesses selected for a compliance check,” he said.
“Child Employment Officers will visit employers over the April school holidays when young workers are more likely to be in businesses, to check relevant permits, hours of work, rest breaks and other requirements.”
Mr Pallas said research had shown that businesses in regional areas were more likely to employ younger workers than their metropolitan counterparts (eight per cent regional, compared to five per cent metropolitan) and that almost 50 per cent of staff under 15 in cafés and restaurants had been asked to work longer than their allocated shift.
“Young workers can fill important jobs for many businesses and the experience is invaluable for this emerging workforce – provided they are kept safe,” he said.
“It’s a win-win and the Wage Inspectorate is doing its job in giving businesses the support they need to ensure young workers are respected.”
Mr Pallas said in Victoria, employers needed a permit before a worker under 15 years of age could be hired, although there were some exemptions like those for young staff employed in family businesses.
