Burger company Grill'd has sacked a young employee who says she was targeted for speaking out against a WorkChoices-era agreement that denies staff penalty rates and pays below-award wages.

Kahlani Pyrah, 20, was employed at the Grill'd outlet in Camberwell, where she began an effort to terminate the company's 2007 wage deal in favour of the basic restaurant industry entitlements.

Kahlani Pyrah alleges she was sacked by Grill'd for speaking out about below-award wages. Credit:Eddie Jim

The workplace agreement for five Melbourne Grill'd outlets pays adult staff a flat hourly rate of $17.52 and no weekend penalty rates. Under the restaurant award, adult grade 2 staff would be receiving almost $18.47 an hour and up to $27.71 an hour at weekends including penalty rates.

The Grill'd deal also requires workers to buy their own uniforms and undertake unpaid training outside work hours.