More than half of young workers aged under 25 have experienced wage-theft in the past 12 months according to UnionsACT’s latest annual youth survey.
The survey of over 300 young people aged 14-24 was conducted in January 2019, and is the third annual survey of young ACT workers.
Wage-theft committed by employers against workers has increased from 44% in 2018 to 52% in 2019. This includes 20% of young workers who are children aged under 18.
Key findings:
- Experience of wage-theft has increased to 52%
for young workers aged under 25. - More young women experience wage-theft than
young men, 55% compared to 50% of young men. - 20% of young workers (children) aged 14-17 have
experienced wage-theft.
Despite over half of young workers experiencing wage-theft, only 25% reported trying to recover their stolen wages. The reasons include long and expensive legal processes, casualisation and fear of being sacked
