A survey of more than 1400 students by the University of Sydney business school has revealed the relatively alarming statistic that 80% of international students are paid below minimum wage – with some literally being paid nothing on sham ‘training’ contracts which often do not lead to permanent roles.
35% of these students are being paid $12 an hour – well below the federally mandated $17.29 minimum wage across all industries.
Retail was the the worst sector for exploitation, with a staggering 90% of international student workers being underpaid. Many are put on ‘training’ periods in which they are paid much lower rates or even nothing, with the promise of a permanent paid role which never comes.
Dr Stephen Clibborn, a researcher on the USYD project, told Fairfax that this reveals the problem to be far more widespread than many thought. “7-Eleven has been getting the headlines but what this shows is that underpayment is taking place in businesses right across Sydney.”
Considering how important the education market is to Australia, it’s probably not a good look that we’re using those students for shitty, low-wage labour. Dr Clibborn reckons we need more resources for the Fair Work Ombudsman to do their job and crack down on illegal workplace conditions.
Source: Sydney Morning Herald.
Photo: Getty Images / Brendon Thorne.
