Twenty-year-olds working in the retail industry will finally be paid an adult's wage, according to a historic decision by the Fair Work Commission meaning thousands of young adults will see their wage rise by about $2 an hour.
Twenty-year-olds were paid 90 per cent of an adult working full- or part-time minimum wage before Friday's decision. But the ruling means they will be paid the same amount as 21-year-olds.
It comes after a two-year battle by the union movement, spearheaded by the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association. SDA national secretary Gerard Dwyer said it was a great decision and had come after a long struggle.
"We heard the decision during the afternoon tea break today and I just shared it with some delegates," he said. "There was spontaneous applause because this means a lot to people, you know?"
Dwyer said some retailers had already started paying young workers the full adult minimum wage so the decision would "level the playing field" for workers in the industry.
The new rates will be phased in from July
Read more in SMH
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