G’day! Adulthood is defined here as being 18 too. Once you turn 18, no age restrictions apply to you anymore. You can drink, smoke, vote, go to war, whatever you’d like.
In fast food specifically (unsure about others), the minimum wage increases 10% for every year over 15 you are, starting with 40% at 15 and reaching 90% when you’re 20. It’s an absolutely stupid and I’d definitely argue discriminatory rule.
It IS actually illegal to discriminate based on age, I don’t know why it’s legal to discriminate any adults based on age for anything, and I’m unsure whether that’s intentional or it actually is but just unenforced, but from my experience it’s pretty much only ageism if you discriminate against old people (at least, that’s how it’s enforced)
How are the laws/regulations worded as in Australia?
“Discrimination in employment based on age” or “discrimination in pay based on age” can probably be considered two separate things. A silly distinction, but weasel words make the politics go round.
I’ve never read the legislature so I don’t know, but I’d assume it’s a bit of both, but with specific exceptions to people under 21. There would have to be pay wise, otherwise the government would be implementing illegal laws, but I’m not sure whether anybody can be discriminated against based solely on age in terms of employment
Huh. TIL. Thanks buddy!
Heya Baku. I wanted to reply to you as well just to say I fully agree with this system being really fucked up. I want to add some context though, because you’re incorrect that the legal definition of adulthood is just about being 18 in Australia. Gonna chuck these in bullet points:
Zagorath@aussie.zone 10 months ago
Just a minor point of terminology, it doesn’t increase “10%”, it increases by 10 percentage points. The difference is quite substantial, with a 16-year-old full-time level-1 making $12.36 in reality (50% of a 21-year-old), but 10% more than the 15-year-old’s wage being $10.88.