When young workers are trying to fight for their basic work right of being paid, it is sadly a lot harder than it first might seem. The first and most basic problem is their inability to speak up. Some young people are just shy while others are here on a visa and are afraid of jeopardizing their current job.
Another problem is the expensiveness of the process. Since the amount that they are fighting for is not high, even when they win the case, they don’t gain any profits because of the price of the whole process. This is called a pyrrhic victory.
Another downside to the process is the complexity of it. To some people, it can seem hard to understand and is way too much effort for them to undertake. It is also hard when the court orders for the person to be paid but it still goes unpaid, and many people do not know what to do after that.
To help resolve this, Sharmilla Bargon, coordinator of the Employment Rights Legal Service, suggests that the Federal Government should create a small claims tribunal that deals with cases like this in a simple and affordable way. However, for now the best way for young people to deal with this situation is to speak up as soon as they notice any unpaid debts but there is still a long way to go in resolving this issue.
If you or someone you know wish to to discuss this issue further, then please do not hesitate to contact us on 02 8999 9809.