By Alesha Capone
A KEILOR MP has slammed the State Government’s support for shorter minimum retail shift times because they could have a negative impact on young people in the West.
Earlier this year, the Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Richard Dalla-Riva, said the government would make a submission to Fair Work Australia in support of changing minimum shifts for young casual retail workers.
“We support their bid to vary the retail award to allow students to agree to work after school for a minimum of one and a half hours, with the permission of parents or guardians,” he said.
However, Keilor MP Natalie Hutchins has told Parliament 90 minute shifts would not provide much incentive to young people looking for work.
“Mitchell, a 16-year-old worker in my electorate, travels from Hillside to the Keilor Rd McDonald’s to work a couple of shifts a week. It takes him an hour and a half to get there by public transport,” she said.
“The wages for an hour and a half are not going to cover his time or travel costs. On behalf of young workers and all the casual workers in my electorate, I condemn this attack on their earnings.”
The Keep Australia Working regional employment plan, issued last year, said Melbourne’s north-west had the highest rate of youth unemployment within Victoria.
The highest unemployment areas for young people were Broadmeadows, Sunshine, Melton West and Maribyrnong.
Ms Hutchins said the State Government’s decision on shift lengths would have a negative impact on the rate of youth unemployment in the West.
“If anything it will deter some young people from taking on part-time jobs, particularly those that don’t drive and rely on public transport, due to the costs and time it takes to travel on public transport – to and from work,” she told Star.
“I’ve heard from many young people and from women working part time in the retail and fast food sectors, they’ve told me that if they only get called into work a one and half hour shift it will not be financially worth it to them to come to work.”
