Overview

• Melbourne Law School’s Fair Day’s Work survey found one-third of under-30 workers paid $15 an hour or less, with many denied breaks, superannuation and proper wages.
• Unions and the Young Workers Centre have launched rights education campaigns to inform young employees of their legal entitlements.
• Advocacy groups are urging the Fair Work Ombudsman to shift from reactive complaint handling to proactive inspections in industries with high rates of exploitation.
• Policymakers are reviewing proposals for stronger enforcement, including higher penalties and increased resources for regulatory bodies.
• Researchers recommend digital compliance tools to help young workers track hours, wages and benefits and to flag potential employer violations.