Junior Pay Rates Scrapped for Young Workers

0:00Young workers aged 18 to 20 in fast food, retail, and pharmacy just got a major win from the Fair Work Commission. In a big ruling this Tuesday, they scrapped the discounted junior pay rates, meaning these folks now earn the full adult award wage, putting them on, equal ground with older colleagues. Right now, 18-year-olds were pulling just 70% of the full rate, 19-year-olds 80% and 20-year-olds 90%. This changed wipes that gap away for young adults. It hits employers like McDonald's hard, but the commission weighed in on real issues, like how tough the job market is for youth-facing disadvantages. The rollout happens gradually over four years, kicking off in December, and it only applies if they've got at least six months on the job. Kids under 18 keep their junior rates for now. This levels up pay for a key group hitting the workforce, easing some early career pressures as the details settle in. That's your update from Sydney News Today, powered by AI.