Twenty-three workers aged 18-25 were asked to participate in a mock job information session, and were asked a series of questions about the risks they were willing to take to secure employment.
Twenty-one participants said they would accept their employer had no responsibility for their health and safety, they would work without first being trained, they would accept bullying and harassment in the workplace and accept unsafe work conditions to secure and maintain employment.
Young people face difficulty getting a foot in the door in the workforce, with entry-level positions making up 0.5 per cent of advertised positions.
Nationally the youth unemployment rate is more than double the average unemployment rate, with one in three young people unemployed or underemployed.
Difficulties securing full-time employment can continue well into their working lives.
Half of Australia’s 25 year-old's are unable to gain full-time employment, despite 60 per cent of 25 year old’s holding post-school qualifications.
A report from Brotherhood of St Laurence has ranked the Murray region — which includes the twin towns — as having the fourth highest youth unemployment across the nation for 2018.
Interviews from the participants will feature in a campaign to raise awareness of the pressures placed on young workers.
Victorian Minister for Workplace Safety Jill Hennessy said the campaign aims to remind workers they have the right to come home safely from work everyday.
“Everyone has a part to play to make sure young workers are given the training and supervision they need to feel safe and be safe at work,” she said.
“Young Victorians should be safe at work and it is unacceptable for employers to pressure inexperienced workers into situations that put their physical or mental health at risk.”
They can be reluctant to question their employers about hazards in the workplace and often have a poor understanding of their health and safety rights.
WorkSafe chief executive Colin Radford said employers have no excuse for abusing their power endangering the health and well-being of young workers.
“WorkSafe will not hesitate to take enforcement action where it finds employers failing to meet their health and safety obligations,” he said.