One in four young people are working in insecure, black-market jobs according to new research commissioned by Victoria Trades Hall. These workers are paid cash in hand and are far less likely to have access to have access to or knowledge of their legal rights at work. Not surprisingly, these jobs are usually in workplaces without union representation.
Penalty rates, annual leave, compensation of injury and protection against unfair dismissal are all widely absent from these jobs leaving many young people vulnerable to exploitation.
Joining us to discuss these findings is Keelia Fitzpatrick, Youth Officer at the ACTU