Today the Federal Government will cut JobKeeper for thousands of young Canberran workers.
Payments for full-time workers will be slashed from $1500 to $1200 per fortnight, while people who usually worked less than 20 hours a week before the Coronavirus pandemic will receive just $750 per fortnight. Combined with the cuts to JobSeeker last week, as the Coronavirus supplement was reduced from $550/ fortnight to $250/ fortnight, support desperately needed by young workers during the pandemic-induced recession has been drastically cut.
Across the country, unemployment of young workers has doubled since the pandemic began and many young workers who have been able to keep at least one job report getting many fewer hours of work. Cutting JobKeeper is going to increase unemployment and underemployment for young workers.
Although the income threshold for JobSeeker is increasing to $300 per fortnight, mutual obligation is increasing again forcing young workers to search for eight jobs per month. In a climate of severe recession, as the availability of jobs decreases, this policy will likely see many young workers competing for a shrinking pool of jobs.
Government policy which reduces the income of young workers harms our economy and our society at a time when we need more economic support, not cuts.
If you want help understanding your rights to JobKeeper or think your boss is doing the wrong thing, get in touch with the Young Workers Centre Advice Service and we can help: www.youngworkers.org.au/advice or phone 02 6225 8104.