While I accept $10 per hour is a very low pay rate, if anyone thinks we can afford to pay near or above $20 per hour to collect trolleys, and compete globally, they have some serious issues.

This is living proof the minimum wage is simply too high.

The FWA calculates the minimun wage. Rents,groceries,fuel, utilities, They all take a share of the minimun wage. Competing does not have a calculation.

Doog, competition on the global market may not have a calculation, but it can sure determine our future. We cant all be employed by the service industries.

Spare a thought for the future of the low payd. Thailand at 3 $ / day you are never going to compete so forget it, and look after our own.

There are three ways we can compete:

The first (perhaps surprisingly) is the do nothing option. Business as usual, and eventually the markets will adjust the value of our dollar to a level that we can compete at.

The second option is a race to the bottom: cut wages and working conditions to enable us to compete with low wage countries. Cut taxes to make us a more attractive investment destination, even when that means we can't afford better services.

The third option is a race to the top: concentrate on high value work, and invest heavily in science, education and infrastructure to enable our population to do that.

Those on the Left usually favour the third option and try to avoid the second.
ISTM those on the Right tend to favour the second option because they ignore the existence of the other alternatives!

It is not only trolley collectors rehctub, it's everywhere.

Once upon a time, nice mothers used to work in child care places for a bit of money to help the family budget. Today the women's libbers have managed to put in place regulations requiring a degree or 2 to work in one, pay rates have become ridiculous for the job, & the long suffering taxpayer has to pick up most of the bill, because working mothers can't afford the price.

Once upon a time, 2 men, with a small truck load of bitumen used to drive down the road, patching pot holes in a couple of minutes, covering miles of road in a day. Today it takes those same 2 men, plus another 2 with a truck of road signs, witches hats, & other paraphernalia, plus 2 lollipop people to do the job. Four vehicles & 5 men to drop a bit of tar in a hole for gods sake. Instead of miles, the whole circus covers just 2 or 3 potholes a day.

Once upon a time us oldies got a great education in classes of 40 or more, with competent teachers. Today teaching standards are so low even with 20 kids in a class, education is poor. It costs twice as much for half the result.

Everywhere you look we are pricing ourselves into a Greek future