Wage Inspectorate Victoria launches child employment campaign in Shepparton

All workplaces have risks, and these risks are magnified for kids under 15, which is why officers from the Wage Inspectorate will be visiting businesses in Shepparton to educate and ensure compliance with child employment laws.

The campaign will see child employment officers inspect restaurants, cafes, and fast-food businesses and talk to employers about their obligations under the state’s child employment laws, including requirements relating to licences, hours of work, rest breaks and start and finish times.

In Victoria, employers need a licence before a child under 15 years of age can be employed, although there are some exemptions, such as for children employed in family businesses.

Hospitality work is driven by demand for service, which can be unpredictable, particularly during peak times, such as school holidays.

Research has shown that children working in the hospitality industry are more likely to be asked to work longer than their allocated shift, compared to those working in other sectors.

Data also shows that kids in regional Victoria are more likely to join the workforce before the age of 15 than those in metropolitan Melbourne.

If regional kids are more likely to work, regional businesses have an even greater incentive to learn about child employment laws. You don’t want your well-intentioned decision to give a kid their first job to put you on the wrong side of the law.

The Shepparton area has a higher percentage of children aged 10 to 14, compared to the regional Victorian average, suggesting that a greater number of children may be looking for work in the area.

Kids working in regional areas can be a great help to businesses and the experience can be invaluable for the kids. It’s win-win, as long as it is done safely and legally.

Quotes attributable to Lily Dekic, Deputy Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria

“We’ll be out and about in Shepparton inspecting businesses, educating employers, and enforcing compliance with the law.”

“The biggest risk with breaking child employment laws is that a child gets seriously hurt in the workplace. Our officers are making sure Shepparton restaurants, cafes, and fast-food businesses employing kids under 15 are doing so safely.”

“Kids working on school holidays can be a great help to businesses in regional areas like Shepparton, and the experience can be invaluable for the kids. It’s win-win, as long as it is done safely and legally.”

"There’s a common misconception that kids have to be 14 and 9 months to get a job, but Victoria’s child employment laws say nothing about being 14 and 9 months, so we’re looking to bust that myth.”