A $4 an Hour PaTH to Slave Labour

This week the government has officially decided to roll-out it’s slave labour program, PaTh, without the support of the Senate.
This will see the $200 a fortnight payment (which works out to be a measly $4 an hour) be taxed as income, meaning young people will receive even less- $42 dollars a week less!
“A $4 an hour program is exploitation. What we do when we pay people so little is devalue their work and push them further below the poverty line!” Said NUS Welfare Officer Jill Molloy.
“We’re also concerned with the nature of the PaTH program which will create an internship culture where young jobseekers do not receive secure employment.” Molloy says.
Moreover, the NUS is concerned with the $1000 incentive businesses receive for taking on an intern.
“This program is proof that the Liberals priorities lie more in helping big business make profit by exploiting workers; not in creating job opportunities for young Australians” Said NUS President Sophie Johnston
Of further concern is the precarious nature of unpaid and underpaid internships which only rid student workers of the workplace protections they deserve.
“NUS is outraged by this Government’s cowardly attempt to address underemployment and low wage growth; we know a program like PaTH will only make matters much worse.” Johnston said
“This government cannot continue to drive young people into poverty. If the government was concerned with the livelihoods of the youth, they would not cut penalty rates or force them to work for $4 an hour.” Said Anneke Demanuele, NUS Education Officer
“If anything, this program is going to force more people into precarious work, as business owners will be scrambling for the government hand outs” Said Demanuele.
The NUS Welfare Campaign ‘Your Rights at Work, Uni and Home’ is running a campaign against unpaid and underpaid internships. The NUS is also very prepared to combat any budgetary measures to this effect.
Sophie Johnston National President | National Union of Students