A new report by Melbourne Law School has revealed widespread exploitation of young Australian workers, with many underpaid, denied basic entitlements, and even forced to return wages.
The Fair Day’s Work report found that one in three workers aged 18 to 30 were paid $15 an hour or less — well below the national minimum wage of $24.95.
Of the 2814 young workers surveyed, nearly 38% reported being denied their entitled breaks, while 35 said their logged hours were tampered with on timesheets.
Alarmingly, 8% of respondents said they had to give back part or all of their wages, and around 10% were paid in food or goods instead of money.
The report highlights how many young workers lack awareness of their rights, have precarious job arrangements, and often feel powerless to challenge mistreatment.
Authors Professor John Howe and Tom Dillon noted that underpayment is one of the most persistent problems in Australian labour law, particularly affecting young people.
Non-binary workers, people with disabilities, those without permanent residency, and non-native English speakers were found to be at greater risk of workplace exploitation.
Despite positive experiences reported by those who sought help from Fair Work authorities, many young workers remain hesitant to take formal action.
The authors stress that systemic issues such as discrimination based on gender, race, and immigration status cannot be addressed in isolation.
The report recommends six key reforms, including stronger compliance enforcement, targeted regulation, and the development of digital tools to reduce exploitation.
