Wage Inspectorate Victoria officers are in Shepparton this week, visiting businesses to ensure compliance with child employment laws, focusing on establishments employing workers under 15 years of age.
The inspections will target restaurants, cafes and fast-food venues, with officers educating employers about legal requirements including licensing, work hours and mandatory break periods.
“We’ll be out and about in Shepparton inspecting businesses, educating employers and enforcing compliance with the law,” Deputy Commissioner of Wage Inspectorate Victoria Lily Dekic said.
“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.”
Victorian law requires employers to obtain a licence before hiring children aged under 15, with exemptions for family businesses. This is particularly relevant in regional Victoria, where data shows children are more likely to enter the workforce before 15 compared to metropolitan Melbourne.
Research indicates hospitality workers under 15 face increased risks of working beyond scheduled hours, especially during peak periods like school holidays.
