I’m 22, a University graduate, and out of work.
It’s hard enough to get a decent job these days - I need real support from the government, not a dud internship.
I’m worried businesses will see me as a cash cow and I won’t have any security after 12 weeks of working for $4 an hour.
I’m worried short-term internships like this will replace real jobs with real wages. I want a minimum wage just like everyone else.
This is work for the Dole 2.0: It didn’t lead to secure jobs for young people like me the first time round and this won’t either.
Why is this important?
Malcolm Turnbull and the Federal government have just expanded the PaTH program. These interns are paid $200 a fortnight and can work up to 50 hours a fortnight, including weekends.
That's about $4 an hour.
The minimum wage in Australia is $18.29 per hour, so that’s effectively a wage cut of $14.29 per hour. Every hour, every week, for 3 months.
We’ve been crunching the numbers and this could add up to nearly $4000 in stolen wages. Businesses will be able to burn and churn through disadvantaged young people every 3 months, all the while making a profit off tax-payers.
What about the young people out of work??
Reasons for signing