The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has announced significant changes to how junior employees aged 18 to 20 are paid under the General Retail Industry Award 2020, Fast Food Industry Award 2020 and Pharmacy Industry Award 2020.
The changes have been introduced as the Fair Work Commission accepted that junior adult aged employees generally perform work of equal value to other adult employees.
Key changes include:
- employees aged 18 to 20 will be entitled to receive the full adult pay rate, once they have six months experience with their current employer
- rates for employees under 18, and 18 to 20-year-olds in their first six months of employment, will not change
The changes are expected to be implemented on a phased basis from 1 December 2026 to 1 July 2029.
Disclaimer: This does not purport to be comprehensive or to render legal advice. You should not act based on any information contained in this publication without first obtaining specific professional advice. Consult your legal advisor to determine if this applies to you.
