A 15 year old girl employed in a fast-food shop, was given a bucket containing caustic soda by the owner and asked to clean the ovens. The employer failed to inform her of the contents of the bucket and did not provide her with necessary training or adequate protective gear. She suffered burns to her body and required hospital treatment which the employer agreed to pay. However, the employer found the bill amounting to $99 was “excessive” and refused to give her any more shifts. The employer alleged the accident was her fault. JobWatch also found that she had been underpaid by 50% and that the employer had no insurance. 
(JobWatch Annual Report 2006-2007)

Providing for decent conditions for young workers should be a priority for Governments, employers and all others involved in the employment area. The Victorian Office of the Workplace Rights Advocate (OWRA) has recognised that many young people do not feel confident about negotiating their terms and conditions of employment.

A strong set of legislated universal standards for young people at work should address these issues:

• training should not be unpaid (including ‘trials’);
• work undertaken in unsociable hours (weekend and late night work) should receive higher pay;
• the need for advanced notice of work rosters (so young people can plan ahead);
• casualisation (and the right to secure and regular work);
• occupational health and safety (including sexual and other harassment and bullying);
• underpayment; and,
• provision of meal breaks.

JustAct is specifically calling on the Victorian Government to legislate for the protection of 15-17 workers and to provide greater education and monitoring resources to this important area of need.

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