Starting-out workers and trainees
Employers and employees may agree to any wage rate as long as it is not less than the applicable minimum wage rate. Starting-out workers must be paid at least the minimum starting-out wage rate, and trainees over 20 years of age must be paid at least the training minimum wage rate.
All employees who are involved in training or supervising other employees must be paid at least the adult minimum wage rate.
Who are starting-out workers
Starting-out workers are:
- 16- and 17-year-old employees who have not yet completed six months of continuous employment with their current employer.
- 18- and 19-year-old employees who have been paid a specified social security benefit for six months or more, and who have not yet completed six months continuous employment with any employer since they started being paid a benefit. Once they have completed six months continuous employment with a single employer, they will no longer be a starting-out worker, and must be paid at least the adult minimum wage rate.
- 16- to 19-year-old employees who are required by their employment agreement to undertake industry training for at least 40 credits a year in order to become qualified for the occupation to which their employment agreement relates.
Who are trainees
Trainees are employees aged 20 years or over who are doing recognised industry training involving at least 60 credits a year as part of their employment agreement, in order to become qualified. The training minimum wage applies to these employees.
