Auggie wrote on Apr 24
th, 2017 at 4:20pm:
tickleandrose wrote on Apr 24
th, 2017 at 10:54am:
Re AugCaesarustus:
And here is the issue. You are employed already, and you are looking for a second job to supplement your primary income. If you abolish the minimum wage, then those who are looking for their first job will also be effected. In Australia, minimum wage is required so that people do have the motivation to find work. If say, there is no minimum wage, and even if you work 40 - 50 hrs +, it is not enough to keep the rent or the basic utility for you and your family, then where is the incentive to work? In which case, people mind as well all go onto the welfare program. This will increase tax, and have negative impact on the economy.
No, in actual fact, abolishing the minimum wage will help those finding their first job because at the moment they are priced out of the market. Why would an employer hire an inexperienced person at $17 p/h when they're worth $10 p/h?
Second, you're assuming that everyone on the minimum wage is living alone with a family and struggling. Many who are on the minimum are students, or people who don't rely on it for a living. Sure, there are many families who are on the minimum wage, but they make up a small percentage of the population. There are two questions in this regard: 1) why aren't they relying on family support? 2) why did they have kids in the first place?
Actually there is already a scheme for those dependents, namely students or children of parents who are unskilled, and undergoing training. These are tied to training schemes, where at the end of the rotation, the student gets a certificate. And in exchange, the employer can pay be below the minimum wage. However, even this scheme was ruthlessly exploited by some employers. Young people are employed to do jobs that they are not in training for, and get paid peanuts for doing them. There is an article about this on theage.com.au the other week.
On the second part of your question. Well.. you have to look at the social structure of Australia. For many decades, the businesses have promoted, smaller families as against a nuclear family in the say pre 60s era. And there is a culture of expectation, that when you are over 18 or so, you supposed to be out fending for yourself. Sure, there are alot of supportive parents out there, but there are also those who are not so much. There are also many youngsters coming from rural region where there is non existent job opportunity. There may be also youngsters who have to look after their ill parents. These are the real people who will suffer under a no minimum wage, not your typical middle class child with supportive parents that you think everyone has.
And look at the political climate? Our government is going out their ways to support and reward employers to employ older Australians, and by all means they should. But at the same time, penalize young people if they are unfortunate enough to lose their job, cutting back tafe, and increasing tertiary education costs. And these on top of ever spirally cost of housing, rent and utilities.
As to why they have kids. Its a myth. Right now, the average age of first expectant mothers are getting older and longer comparing to 1 to 2 generations ago. Its not usual to see people getting married in their 30s, and have kids in their mid 30s, early 40s even.
Forum
Pages: 
