Regional businesses intending to hire kids over the summer school holidays, to help manage seasonal demand, are being urged to apply for a child employment licence now to avoid falling foul of workplace laws.
The warning from Victoria’s child employment watchdog, Wage Inspectorate Victoria, comes after it has prosecuted eight regional businesses over child employment laws over the last 12 months.
In Victoria, businesses can hire kids as young as 13 in industries such as retail and hospitality, but they need a licence to employ anyone under 15. A business can employ multiple children under one licence, and must adhere to rules around supervision, work hours, and rest breaks.
"We know child employment is more common in regional and rural Victoria, particularly in holiday hotspots, so I urge businesses to familiarise themselves with the law. The Wage Inspectorate would much rather help local businesses employ kids safely and legally than take more matters to court, so reach out to get the advice you need,” Robert Hortle, Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria said.
Employing kids under 15 over summer can be win-win, with businesses getting enthusiastic staff to help manage the peak season, and kids getting valuable experience and earning spending money.
But the Wage Inspectorate warns that it needs to be done safely and legally or businesses may be subject to fines of more than $200,000.
Research shows kids in regional and rural areas are more likely to work than those in metropolitan Melbourne, so it is particularly important that businesses in these areas are aware of the law and get a licence before hiring anyone under 15.
In the last fortnight alone, a Gippsland pizza restaurant was fined $4000 after pleading guilty to breaking child employment laws.
In August, a Phillip Island café was fined $2000 for employing a child below the minimum working age without a permit.
Last year the Wage Inspectorate visited 86 Gippsland businesses checking for compliance, including in Bass Coast.
Seventy-six per cent of businesses were referred for further investigation after being found to not be complying with child employment laws.
Half of the non-compliant businesses were based on Phillip Island or in San Remo.
Information at wageinspectorate.vic.gov.au.