Junior pay rates to be scrapped for young SA workers
Thousands of young SA workers are set to receive a pay bump over the next few years, with the Fair Work Commission ruling to abolish junior rates of pay for 18+ year olds.
Thousands of young workers will be impacted by a ground-breaking Fair Work Commission ruling to abolish junior rates of pay for 18+ year olds in retail, fast food and pharmacy.
The Fair Work Commission on Tuesday said employees aged from 18 to 20 should receive the full award wage, a move welcomed by South Australia’s largest union.
Currently, wages for 18-year-olds in those sectors are 70 per cent of the full award wage, rising to 80 per cent for those aged 19, and 90 per cent when they reach 20.
Junior wages will still remain for minors.
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“This is a momentous decision, a win for younger workers, a win for intergenerational equity,” the SDA said in a statement.
The decision was expected to impact approximately 15,000 workers across South Australia.
Junior rates will be phased out gradually until 2029, and the adult rate will only apply to workers who have been employed at their workplace for six months or more.
The SDA said the decision was the result of a groundbreaking case by the SDA – South Australia’s largest union – in 2024 seeking to vary the Retail, Fast Food and Pharmacy Awards.
The higher wages for junior workers will start to be phased in over four years from December.
The decision took into account factors such as labour market disadvantages for young people, the watchdog said.
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