Grill’d was able to pay Arda $3 less than minimum wage. Unions want this youth ‘loophole’ abolished

Advocates argue it's time for youth wages to rise but business groups claim paying more will just push some companies into insolvency

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Arda Konstantine could vote, drink and drive a car. But as they were 19 years old, their employer, Grill'd, was legally able to pay them just $16.50 an hour - $3.38 less than the hourly national minimum for their age.

If Konstantine worked at the fast food chain's airport store, their rate bumped up an extra $2. While employed at Grill'd, Konstantine never got weekend or public holiday rates.