While many retailers’ cash registers rang loudly over the festive season, once again the annual holiday period was used as an excuse to exploit vulnerable workers. Following the exposure of a massive wage rip off by the mega rich mob down at ‘Seven Eleven’, not once, but twice, it has been revealed that the high profile and highly profitable ‘Bakers Delight’, a 700 store chain multinational, has been found to be using an outdated 2006 Howard Government ‘Work Choices’ deal to pay young workers crumbs, as little as $8 an hour, or as low as $38.50 for a four hour Sunday Shift. No doubt the festive season proved to be a real windfall for the bread boys, after paying those lousy rates, they flogged off plenty of overpriced loaves which resulted in some real dough pouring in, but unfortunately none of it for their hard working, exploited child workers. ‘Bakers Delight’ general manager Gerry Gerrard said; “Bakers Delight's 2006 agreement offered non-monetary benefits and "flexibilities" that help make up for the lower overall pay.” What are they Gerry, a free bread roll at the end of a kids shift? ‘Bakers Delight’ is owned by co-founders Roger and Lesley Gillespie who in 2015 had an estimated shared personal fortune of about $150 million according to the BRW Rich List.
Many within the retail industry see it as their god given right to illegally exploit workers, with cash in hand, use tax avoidance and pocket GST for their own selfish use. As one unnamed retailer said “If it wasn’t for these “sie’sees” as the French would say, how else is one to make ends meet! Without them I would find it impossible to provide my dearest with the basic necessities of life, such as a new BMW every Christmas.

Dear Paul,

According to an editorial in The Age investigative
reports over the past 18 months Fairfax Media has exposed
the underpayment and exploitation of workers at some
of the country's largest and best known retail and
hospitality companies, Coles, Woolworths, McDonalds,
7-Eleven, Caltex, Baker's Delight to name just a few.

It is high time that the exploitation and under-payment
of workers was stamped out and that companies were held
accountable.

Surely the fact that the media is exposing wage inequities all the time means that people are being held to account? I know it might sound cruel, but the people working in the lowest paying industries- retail and hospitality - are not all that bright, and they are not much good at their jobs, mainly because they resent having to do work that society has told them is demeaning. Governments and 'regulators' are not interested, so it is left to the media to expose and embrarrass exploitative employers like Bakers Delight and 7 Eleven. I think that they are doing this fairly well. I know that is effective in SA. More than a few Bakers Delight franchises have changed hands because of exploitation of staff, after customers have turned their backs on them.

Oh dear, here you go again Paul, sticking your nose into someone elses business.

What you lot don't get, is that at least these people, many who are all but unemployable HAVE A JOB.

Now sure, they may not get paid the double time you feel they are owed, but seriously, many are simply not worth it.

What you should be doing is allowing society to work out their own situations and drop the rediculous penilty rates simply because its a Sunday. A seven day society, as demanded by consumers should have an even pay rate.

Of cause i have asked you before why a coffe should cost twice as much labor cost on a Sunday as a normal day, but you refuse to answer, so lets hope you do this time.

We have moved on from the 90's Paul and youre welcome to catch up any time you like, but do be warned, a low paid job is far better than no job and thats where you are leading us to, like it or not because the moment the baker increases his Sunday rate, you shop elsewhere.

You have to either agree to pay the extra, or move aside and let businesses trade without the likes of your noses in the way, because unless you are one of those workers, IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

Another thing you clouns dont realize it that we had two extra public holidays thrown at us this year. The first being Christmas day, not a PH but still had to pay wages WITH ZERO INCOME MYSELF, then had to pay for MOn & Tue, then same for NYD, plus Monday although this was the 1st day of 2017.

Of cause i could have reworked the rosters so my staff were off Christmas day, but thats not how i operate, but as if you care about what i do Paul, you prefer to tag me as the bad guy, it makes for a far better strory hey mate.

Am I right in noting that someone doesn't comply with lawful wages and conditions "because that's not how I operate" or did he not express himself clearly? I bought bread at Baker's Delight this morning and would have happily paid the extra to cover the firm's compliance with the law, even though I'm a pensioner with a tight budget. It's pin money.

As for GST, that's a regressive Theft Tax which was introduced to cover a 17% reduction of corporate taxes, it was never approved by the public (whose only option was periodically to choose between corrupt political parties which never let on what they intend to do) and dunno about y'all but I would have no moral qualms about dodging the Theft Tax with the co-operation of a tradie.