Government Announces 10,000 New Retail Internships for Youth on Welfare

The Turnbull government has announced a partnership with retailers in Australia that will create 10,000 new retail internships for young Australians.

The PaTH Internship program will target youth (15 to 24) who have been on welfare payments for more than six months, in an effort to get them into the workforce.

Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education, told Sky News that the opportunities would allow youth to gain those first steps into their field.

"This type of program now helps to ensure there are better opportunities for young Australians to seize that first opportunity on that employment ladder," Birmingham said.

Recipients of the program will be placed in an educational training program and then a 12-week placement. It is expected many of these placements will lead to full-time employment.

Some of the retailers that have signed up to the program include Bakers Delight, Coffee Club and Battery World.

The announcement comes just two days after the cuts to penalty rates came into effect, which directly affect the earnings of retail workers. The changes to penalty rates mean that Sunday rates will now be reduced to 150 per cent the regular wage.

While the effects do take place from July 1 (that was Saturday FYI), they will be introduced over a four-year period.

This means that most rates will be reduced by five per cent this year and will drop a further 15 per cent in the next two years. It will then decrease to 150 per cent for part-time and full-time workers and 175 per cent for casual workers by 2020.