Labor frontbenchers will be listening to and assisting Australia’s young workers during National Youth Week (April 5-13).

Federal Labor’s Youth Week campaign, Young Workers: Demand Respect, will give young workers a chance to voice their concerns about their treatment in the workplace.

By calling the Hotline number on Friday April 11th from 9am-6pm, young workers will be able to speak to Federal Labor frontbenchers, Nicola Roxon (Children & Youth, Women), Robert McClelland (Attorney General and Workplace Relations), and Anthony Albanese (Employment Services and Training) and ACTU organisers.

“While the Government flits around during Youth Week pretending that young people are having the time of their lives under John Howard’s regime, Labor will be taking calls from young workers who have another story to tell.”

The Howard Government has a strategy that makes life for young workers even tougher. It:

• Introduced legislation to suppress wage rises for low-paid workers (who are often young Australians)

• Is obsessed with making it easier to sack casuals and workers employed by small businesses

• Refuses to properly protect employee entitlements

• Has dropped the ball on the vital issue of work & family

• Often fails to prosecute employers who rip off young workers

“Young workers are often unsure of their rights and responsibilities in the workplace and this Government does nothing to make life easier for them.”

“I feel for any first-time worker that has a bad experience and I urge this Government to do more to provide them with support.”

“Young workers are calling for a better deal at work.”

“Only Labor is answering the phone.”