Exploiting the housing crisis

These kinds of jobs are commonly advertised and I don't really agree with them. Having said that, the people that apply don't do so because they are desperate to put a roof over their head and would be living in their car otherwise. They do this normally as they have intention of working in the child care industry or nannying and this is basically the unpaid internship for being a nanny. I'm not saying it is right, but not sure your article is right either.

Happened to me, I had a man build my bathroom, $2000 was discussed. Then I had car repairs, necessary as I live on an island. I worked there about five months until my friends questioned me and cautioned to leave. Then man called demanding money and described it as volunteering. I already volunteer for the govt. Newatart

How does this person cover their car expenses?

A bit embarrassed to admit that I too might have skipped over this on Facebook and considered "The ad was innocuous enough..."; betrays how desensitized we have become to trading in housing (i.e. lack of) desperation and so on. The fear is there will likely be more of it - the new IR norm. I'll be watching out for the BACK OFF comments here! After all, anyone applying for this or any similar position will do so of 'THEIR OWN FREE WILL'!

Many years ago, I did this type of work, when I was a student, except that I was not expected to supply my car. I was paid for the work I did on top of the accommodation etc. In so many ways working conditions seem to have deteriorated and I thought I was working for social justice in a better world!

Thanks Sue, While saddened and a bit shocked, the story does not surprise me in the least. We seem to be heading back to the 18th century and the time of Charles Dickens in the way desperate people are treated. Sadly workers are losing the hard won rights that the trade union movement took two centuries to win. The Turnbull Government and business response to curbs on 'casualization' of work and abolition of penalties is symptomatic of the increasing divide between rich and poor . I wonder if Bill Shorten and the ALP will reverse these trends when they win the next election. I am retired now, so, NOT impacted by the furore over the free hand outs from the ATO . NOT impressed by the idiotic reaction of the 'well heeled' to his attempts at more equality. I do worry about the future for my kids and their children though. Social Justice? pull the other one!

A great article on exploitation of the sinister kind ... to all those people who just want to "get ahead" ... perhaps you could also "get a heart" ... today the whole idea of economy centres on money (the elephant in the room in this story above) ... yet it requires money + more to run the REAL economy ... like the running of a household. Apparently teaching kids ethics in day to day life isn't worth any money (especially if the parents don't have any - ethics, that is) ... as well as keeping the kids safe and secure (at home and on the roads), fed and appropriately supervised and stimulated. Remember well ... these kids will be the ones who look after us in our old age (through decisions affecting us) ...

Unpaid internship, gig economy, contractor, independent team member - all seem to be part of 2018 Orwellian speak or 'weasel words' (Don Watson) for 'insecure employment'. Or dare I say, this job sounds to me like being a live-in maid. Did I say that aloud? Concerned that I had to head over to Centrelink and apply as a job-seeker, having applied for 20-odd jobs in my profession (I have 2, registered for 2 prof. organisations), I started to look at volunteer 'gigs' (can I call them gigs?). There is a lot of 'work' out there that needs doing, just no money for them. Some offer a $10 lunch voucher daily. I jokingly said to a friend, there is work out there, I am happy to do it, don't care who pays me, that is, employer OR the gov't via Centrelink. But of course, we know the difference in regard, respect and respectability ... So, Sue, I agree with your article, concerns and feedback, even if FB and the original poster did not. And the person who 'accepts the job OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL' will be doing so, choosing 'employment' over being a Centrelink "client." This shouldn't be happening, not in 2018 Australia, not while we're arguing about imputation credits, tax cheques to 'poor' retirees, corporate tax, etc. But it is.

This is well beyond fair bartering, The only word that comes to mind is 'exploitation'. Whatever happened to Labor's 'fair wage'. At last reading, even Labor's constitution had a nice capitalist escape clause... not socialist any more. Probably just wealthy socialist policies.

Not confined to the house, well-fed, unpaid, unflogged; so far, like the Serva or Servus of Republican and Imperial Rome. Hang on a sec! The Graeco-Roman slave was also clothed, often allowed to wed and breed, NEVER had to provide his own equi et carrus to run his owner's errands, and was likely, after years of good service, to be freed with a gratuity - a Lump Sum Retirement Benefit large enough to establish himself in a small farm or business. Will the slave sought here be covered by an Employers' Indemnity aka Workers' Comp Policy? Comrades, come rally! There's never a Spartacus Thraex available when you need one!