“A day of rest: the costs of removing penalty rates.” In The Conversation,

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Lowering the minimum wage and removing penalty rates would hit hardest the most vulnerable workers – groups like students and the poor. But it’s worth remembering that many other people working irregular hours do so because we benefit greatly from their after-hours labour: think of the nurses, those working in hospitality or bus drivers who keep things ticking over while others sleep or rest. Policy makers need to consider the cultural value of the weekend and of rest before they start tweaking penalty rates.