Back to basics:

Given there are two people who want to have a private deal between them:
'A' will do some work for 'B' and 'B' will give 'A' some money.

Given both 'A' and 'B' are happy and nobody else is hurt by their deal.

How dare anyone else interfere and tell them that if they proceed with their deal then they will be violently grabbed and placed in a cage?

There lies evil, discussing the details is a distraction.

Yuyutsu - In theory in a perfect world with all honest people you would be right but with some they would interview with the intention of getting the person who will accept the lowest salary.

You could also run the risk of people going into companies and saying they will work for x% less than someone else in a job.

I would also say party A may say they are happy when in fact they are not but to admit they are not leaves them on the dole.

You people don't have a clue about the real world do you? You must be bureaucrats, academics or union officials.

In the early 80s I was in the Whitsundays. In the off season I took a break to do some work on my yacht.

The owner of an island resort I'd done some work for heard I was free, asked me to come over, do a day or 2 a week skippering island boats, & another day or 2 helping with a couple of projects. The rest I could use the island workshop to do my own work for the yacht. Great.

It didn't quite work out that way. I did 28 days straight, had a day off, then 32 days straight, then a day off before another 26 days straight, & quit, I had to get my yacht done.

A typical day was from 7.00 AM on a boat for the morning mainland run, getting off it at about 6.30 PM after the afternoon run. All staff worked a similar 6 day week for about $125 plus keep a week. This was I believe about the award for 38 hours labouring.

It was a great life style, but could get a bit tiring. One day for example, during the off, [cyclone] season when we had only 8 guests I was Island manager, ferry skipper & general roustabout, my wife was kitchen hand, waitress, house maid, boat hostess & office girl. My deck hand was also barman for the day, & the only other person on duty was the cook.

My lady talked all the guests into an island cruise, so everyone, even the cook went cruising all day. It must have been frustrating trying to phone the island that day.

We all knew none of us were working any harder than the owner, & that he was probably earning less than we were. Some lasted just a couple of days, but many had been there for years, & felt part of the place.

Money is not everything.

Dear Philip,

Well at least SOME people are honest: do you wish to punish them because others are dishonest?

If someone went into a company and agreed to work for x% less (and the company actually accepted their offer, after all they may not be as good), then that poor fellow will actually have to WORK for x% less and sweat it out while his friend which he relieved will be able to live on the dole without working!

To facilitate this, the dole should provide a true and unconditional safety-net and not be shameful or disastrous: it should allow one to live frugally but with dignity. This by itself will create the necessary competition that will raise the market value of work.

But I notice that you mentioned companies while I was referring to individuals:

Well in an ideal world there wouldn't be any companies!

So in that case I agree: while individual freedom is sacrosanct, companies are not sentient beings and I find no compelling moral need to allow them similar freedoms. While it is outright immoral to impose conditions on what individuals may freely agree between them, given that it is never compulsory to incorporate, it should be OK to impose IR laws as one of the conditions for incorporation. Is it actually wise to do so? well I am no economist, I am only concerned with the moral side of things.

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Thank you, Hasbeen - nice post!

Just talk to Richard Dinner Tally of the greens.

If someone is prepared to accept cash wages well below the minimum rate then it is OK.

Shadow, how is your mate from the Liberal Party, Chris Nelson going. A part time chiropractor, and full time raciest! What does he charge per hour to racially vilify good people on Facebook? Does he throw in a free back rub at the same time?

Do you know Chris Nelson personally?