Portfolio Media

The after-school job – RIP

05 February 2010

Young Australians can kiss goodbye to the institution of the after-school job thanks to the Rudd Labor Government’s so-called “Fair Work” regime, says Shadow Youth Minister Steven Ciobo.

Mr Ciobo said news of 17-year-old Matthew Spence and five others being sacked from a Victorian hardware store because they are no longer allowed to work a 1.5-hour shift would have huge ramifications for all young Australians.

“This is a massive blow for young Australians trying to get ahead, their ability to earn money, their independence and their first contact with the culture of paid employment,” Mr Ciobo said.

“Here you have young people keen to get out and earn a few dollars for themselves, only to have the Rudd Government tell them they must work a minimum of three hours because of an inflexible rule about having to be paid a minimum of three hours.”

“This is a classic case of a rigid, union-inspired regime being bad for ordinary Australians. It makes an absolute joke and a complete misnomer of Julia Gillard’s ‘Fair Work’ empire,” Mr Ciobo said.

Mr Ciobo said the compulsion for employers to pay part-time workers a minimum of three hours showed the Rudd Government was horribly out of touch with young people and with small business owners.

“What school pupil can make it to an after-school job by 3pm" What small business owner wants to have to pay their staff three hours for 1.5 hours work? This also has huge ramifications for small businesses looking for casual after-school help.

“Despite the Rudd Government’s breathless mantra of ‘working families’, this proves they’re woefully out of touch with the daily lives and needs of Australian families.”

Mr Ciobo challenged the Rudd Government to amend their “Fair Work” regime to all allow more flexibility for young Australians and small business or risk executing the cherished institution of the after-school job.