Underpaid and Exploited: Conflict Over Pay and Conditions for Young Workers

Abstract

Macro-level data paint a detailed picture of the vulnerability of young people in employment, such as their concentration in casualised jobs, low average-weekly earnings and reduced access to collective representation, yet little is known about the internal conflicts that arise in individual workplaces that employ youth. This study seeks to address this gap in the literature by exploring nearly 700 cases of inquiries made to the Young Workers Advisory Service in Queensland. The inquiries, which relate to issues of conflict about pay that occur between employees and employers, allow a detailed and nuanced analysis of situations where young workers are vulnerable.