ACT Labor notes more people are working a second job than at any other time in history. This disproportionately affects people under 35, 55 per cent of whom have 2 or more jobs, and who are locked out of home ownership.
With white-collar workers negotiating work from home arrangements, a national housing crisis and trials for a 4-day work week, it is ludicrous that the lowest paid, frontline workers in our community, be driven to third or fourth jobs to keep a roof over their family's heads.
Affordable housing programs in the community and private sectors fail to recognise fluctuations in wage-based work, and disincentivise workers from taking higher-penalty shifts. Workers should not have to choose between their financial security and their housing security. Enabling wage-based income caps on housing affordability programs would more accurately reflect the financial status of many households.
Visa workers, despite paying higher rates of Australian income tax - are not eligible for Medicare, have capped hours of work, and pay full rates for public schooling. Their lack of rental history references and other documentation routinely requested by real estate agents makes them vulnerable to an unregulated rental market where fraud and theft are becoming commonplace. This inequality compounds when picking up additional hours at their minimum wage jobs necessitates an increase in their rent.