In theory there's a minimum wage - but in reality there are some dodgy employers who pay cash-in-hand below minimum wage. When I used to wait tables I was paid $7/hour. And it does suck that the dole pays better than some traineeships/apprenticeships. They should either increase the pay for trainees/apprentices, or decrease the amount of money people receive on the dole (which should hopefully be a better incentive for some of those people to get a job). I know not all dole recipients are lazy bludgers, but I think we've all known people who are. I've known at least two people who are just text-book dole bludgers who wouldn't know the meaning of work if it came up and kicked them in the janglies.