Rest, one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, says fairer super for young workers is one step closer following the Australian Labor Party’s commitment to extend compulsory super to all under-18 workers.
Delegates at Labor’s National Conference today unanimously voted to include a policy to extend compulsory super contributions to all under-18 workers, regardless of how many hours they work, in its National Platform.
Rest’s Chief Member Officer, Simone Van Veen, says the inclusion of this reform in Labor’s policy platform is an encouraging step towards more equitable retirement outcomes for the fund’s younger members.
"Rest’s analysis has shown that scrapping the unfair requirement for under-18s to work 30 hours per week could add thousands to the retirement balances of our younger members," says Ms Van Veen.
"Right now, a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old could work side by side in the same job, but only one of them would be entitled to compulsory super. In fact, most under-18 workers currently miss out on compulsory super contributions.1
"This doesn’t make sense and needs to change.
"We welcome the Labor Party adding this reform to their policy platform and encourage the Government to take the next step and outline a plan to implement this change.
"It’s essential the potential impact on employers is thoroughly considered through careful consultation and the change is implemented through a multi-year, staged rollout."
Currently, workers under the age of 18 are only eligible for compulsory Superannuation Guarantee payments from their employer if they work more than 30 hours per week for that employer, although Rest acknowledges a number of employers already voluntarily pay this.
Rest has long advocated for this change, which was the priority recommendation in its Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury this year.
The fund’s analysis shows that a typical 15-year-old Rest member could benefit from an estimated $3,400 extra in super by their 18th birthday, and an estimated $18,100 in additional super by retirement (in today’s dollars) if the rule was changed.2
The analysis also showed meaningful additional super for typical 16 and 17 year old members.
1. Guaranteeing a Super Start to Work: Paying Super Guarantee to all workers under 18 years of age, November 2024, pages 6 and 8.2. The analysis was conducted from November 2025 to January 2026.
The analysis assumes the members will enter the workforce on their birthday and retire at age 67.
The 17-year-old Rest member in the analysis is assumed to work 14 hours a week on average, and 30 hours a week for 7% of the weeks in a year. This is in line with the findings of the Super Members Council in Guaranteeing a Super Start to Work: Paying Super Guarantee to all workers under 18 years of age, November 2024. The 15-year-old is assumed to work 9 hours a week on average. The 16-year-old 11 hours a week on average.
The average weekly total cash earnings for non-managerial employees aged 17 and under is used as a base, with 2023 rates adjusted to 2025 rates, taken from Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2023, Australian Bureau of Statistics, January 2024.
An annual gross investment return of 7.25% is assumed, based on the annualised 10-year return for Rest’s Growth option, as at 31 October 2025. Investment returns are calculated after tax on investment income, and Growth’s investment fees and costs and transaction costs, but before the deduction of administration fees. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.
Administration fees applied are the current Rest Super administration fees and costs of $1.50 per week, plus an asset-based fee of 0.10% pa of their account balance (the asset-based fee is capped at $600 pa). Other administration costs of 0.09% pa have not been included as these represent ‘Costs met from reserves’, and are deducted from the Fund’s reserves throughout the year and not directly from a member’s account.
Contributions are taxed at the relevant rate of 15%. Real wage growth is assumed to be 3.7%, reflecting the assumptions in ASIC’s moneysmart Superannuation Calculator.
The analysis is illustrative only, based on reasonable assumptions but has limits. There can be materially different results if those assumptions are not correct or other risks and uncertainties arise. It should not be relied on for the purpose of making a decision in relation to a financial product. Estimates are rounded to the nearest $100.
About Rest
Established in 1988, Rest is one of Australia’s largest profit-to-member superannuation funds, with more than 2 million members and around $113 billion in funds under management as at 30 June 2026.
For more information, please visit our media centre or contact:
Michael Mills
Senior Manager, Communications – Media Relations
michael.mills@rest.com.au | m: 0428 499 722
Natalie Kitchen
Head of External Communications
natalie.kitchen@rest.com.au | m: 0439 046 442
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