The whole “starter wage” idea makes sense if it’s paired with shit like on the job education, training, grace periods for fuck ups, schedules that encourage them to finish school etc. But it doesn’t. If somebody can’t live off the wages what the fuck are we starting? Debt peonage?
Yeah exactly. Guess what your shitty “starter” job does if you are a good worker. Try put you in as many shifts as legally possible because they can squeeze the most excess value out of you. Making it harder to study and generally make time to better yourself.
You’re only young once they say: That’s why you should let capitalism exploit you the most at that point in your life.
Pretty much. That’s why they believe in things like being loyal to your employer. They would not believe in such things if it hadn’t been practical at one point in their lives. It even goes way back to ancient times. Apprenticeship is how you get artisan crafts and carry experience forward.