Jobs go as backpackers work for beds

Jobs go as backpackers work for beds

Backpacker hostels in Byron Bay are employing their guests, saying they are much keener to work than unemployed locals.

Only one in four young people in the Far North Coast community are employed,

and the town's youth worker fears Byron Bay will lose many of them because they have to be paid the legal minimum wage.

"Young people are competing with backpackers who will work for less because they may not have a work visa," Byron Youth Service director Paul Spooner said. "Young people are missing out on potential jobs because of that competition."

Oh, here's a big surprise. Backpackers are willing to work to save themselves some dough on rooms and other people claim they're taking away valuable jobs. Are you going to scrub a toilet??? Yeah, I didn't think so.