Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said it was relieved the 18 month battle to save student jobs had finally come to an end with Fair Work Australia (FWA) announcing its decision today to dismiss the union appeal in the case to reduce minimum shifts for secondary school students.

ARA Executive Director Russell Zimmerman said now secondary school students would be able to work a minimum of 1.5 hour shifts, rather than the previous three hour minimum which ignored student s' study and schooling commitments .

"We welcome this decision as the first step to introducing some flexibility in working arrangements and improving productivity in the retail workplace.  ARA now believes its incumbent on Fair Work Australia and the Federal Government to look at other issues in the retail award including archaic weekend penalty rate structures.

"Fair Work Australia has today made a logical decision that means shifts between the end of school and close of business are safe and available for students who want to get their first experience in the workforce.

"This is a win- win for students and retailers.  Retailers enjoy the community responsibility that comes with giving school students their start in the workforce, the ability to gain an independent income and learn valuable skills beyond the classroom.

"Since the previous three hour minimum shift requirement under the modern retail award came into play on 1 January 2010 retailers across the country have been forced to deny after school work to the thousands of students employed in the sector.
 
"Retailers and industry associations have been advocating for a ruling to save student jobs since the first applications were made in March last year," Zimmerman said.

For over 100 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $240 billion retail sector which employs over 1.2 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 and with a range of member services including business consulting, policy development, advocacy and education, the ARA promotes and protects over 5000 independent and national retailers throughout Australia.

Visit www.retail.org.auor call 1300 368 041.