Equal pay, stronger rights for women would boost the economy says ACTU
7 March 2008, 7:40am
OECD female workforce participation rates by age, 2005 – How does Australia compare?
Equal pay and stronger rights for women will be the focus of discussions at today’s International Women’s Day – Working Women’s Summit held by the ACTU.
Work/Family Rights
Stronger rights to help balance work and family
responsibilities would enable thousands of Australian women to re-enter the
workforce, says ACTU President Sharan Burrow, on the eve of International
Women’s Day.
“At the moment we have a large number of women who would like to return to
work but lack flexible working arrangements to accommodate their family
commitments,” says Ms Burrow.
“Parents need an enforceable right to request flexible work and longer
parental leave where children are school age or younger. This would bring
Australia’s work and family policies into line with top-performing OECD nations
(see attached graph) and help grow the economy.”
Ms Burrow says the Rudd Government is to be commended for including the right
to request part-time and flexible work for parents in its ten proposed National
Employment Standards (NES) but they should ensure it also includes the ability
for workers to appeal unwarranted employer refusals.
Paid Maternity Leave
“Australia also needs an employment standard to guarantee paid maternity
leave entitlements for Australian workers,” says Ms Burrow.
Pay Equity
Equal pay is another area where Australian women still face discrimination
and action is needed to close the gender pay gap.
As ITUC President, Ms Burrow will officially release the International Trade
Union Confederation Report on Pay Equity at today’s ACTU Summit.
“This global study of sixty-three nations has revealed women across all
industries and age groups are being paid on average 16% less than men.
“ABS data also shows the Australian gender pay gap has worsened in recent
years and the most recent figures show females working full-time hours earning
16% or $184.80* a week less than males in full time roles,” she said.
Union priorities for working women
Implement standards set in the Work and Family Test Case (2005),
particularly on the right to request leave and extend to all carers.
14 weeks paid maternity leave – a new national employment standard.
robust pay equity principles reflected in the Rudd Government’s main
Industrial Relations Bill later this year and a corporate commitment to pay
equity audits
superannuation contributions raised to 12% by 2012 - many women
experience a lack of retirement savings
opportunity for skills recognition and acquisition of qualifications
The final ITUC report into Pay Equity will be available on the
ACTU website on Friday morning.
* ABS Data, 6302.0, Nov ’07. If overtime is included then
the figure rises to $364.40 or 25% as women tend to do more unpaid overtime.
Comments(4)
Posted by:Sarah - 23 Jul 2008, 9:31am
I'd like to put some facts into this comments page rather than virtiolic gender bashing. The statistics do not lie and when you compare 'apples with apples', which the ABS has done. There is a marked difference in the earnings between the genders. ABS 2006 Census data states the following for full-time employees: Managers Male: $1717.00 Female: $1335.60 Professionals Male: $1581.10 Female: $1383.90 Technicians and Trade Workers Male: $902.70 Female: $793.20 Community and personal Service Workers Male: $1423.60 Female: $698.40 Clerical and Administrative Workers Male: $1007.70 Female: $889.40 Sales Workers Male: $1036.30 Female: $731.60
The list is longer and you can check the data out on the ABS website. It is unfortunate for Peter and Mark that they have had bad experiences in the workplace but I would like to point out to Mark that his experience as a male in a female dominated workplace is the same story for many women in male dominated workplaces. Discrimination can occur on both sides - does the discrimination perpetrated against you mean that all discrimination agaist women should continue. I would have thought that you might be a little more understanding of the situation than most men. It is not a gender issue - it is an equity issue and should be treated as such. Turning this into a gender bashing debate trivialises the requirement of equity for all - a value that i would have thought was dear to all dedicated unionists.
Posted by:Mark - 6 Jun 2008, 1:37pm
Ditto Peter, Working in a nice safe warm ergonomically designed workplace is a secure place from which Women can fire their anti male vitriol. I have worked in this (extremely unpleasant) environment for decades now, and I am sick of listening to my younger, female bosses constantly moaning about THEIR glass ceilings. The blatant anti male establishment within the Public Service (even the CPSU brags about the majority interests of females on this very website) has become insufferable. I have requested a move from my female dominated section to one with at least a sprinkling of males (yet another female boss, however we don't have any male bosses in my Centre) solely due to the sexist attitudes of my female dominated team. I would invite any of the few remaining males in Centrelink to read the people's handbook regarding harassment; if men were anywhere near as precious as our female counterparts in this organisation there would be no end to potential litigation, harassment claims, etc etc, but then I guess that's how "equality" works isn't it? CPSU, as per your website, you may only value the overwhelming numbers of females within the safe warm walls of the Public Service, however you have lost me as a member with your sexist anti male attitude, and I don't believe I will be the last.
Posted by:Izzy - 14 Mar 2008, 10:39am
Before you jump to conclusions Peter(and speaking of comparing apples vs apples), you should identify the figures which demonstrates the difference in pay between men and women in the 'same type of work'. The examples you provided (ironically), was the very thing you complained about. Rather than adopting an emotive response, maybe you should attempt to compare apples vs apples (female vs male - scientist, doctor,architect,etc. Only then, will your point have any credibility.
Posted by:Peter - 7 Mar 2008, 10:53am
Dear CPSU, I am sick to death of this constant "women earn less than men" stuff that my union continually promotes. If you compare apples with apples and you will find that women in the same position as men earn the same or even more money. This furphy of "women earn less than men" is totally out of date and seeks to put men down. What a lot of women do is take lower paid jobs like in banks, manufacturing or administration roles on purpose, to have an easier life and sacrifice money instead of working in cutting edge roles where there are higher wages. All you are doing is continually putting men down who are prepared to work longer hours, take pressure jobs and give up an easier life in less stressful jobs and die younger. Its about time that the whinging women that foster and promote this rubbish are told to get a life and move into the 21st century. I suppose now I will be labelled sexist - which I am certainly not - but this will be the standard answer promoted by some women who have a male grudge. regards,
I'd like to put some facts into this comments page rather than virtiolic gender bashing.
The statistics do not lie and when you compare 'apples with apples', which the ABS has done. There is a marked difference in the earnings between the genders. ABS 2006 Census data states the following for full-time employees:
Managers
Male: $1717.00
Female: $1335.60
Professionals
Male: $1581.10
Female: $1383.90
Technicians and Trade Workers
Male: $902.70
Female: $793.20
Community and personal Service Workers
Male: $1423.60
Female: $698.40
Clerical and Administrative Workers
Male: $1007.70
Female: $889.40
Sales Workers
Male: $1036.30
Female: $731.60
The list is longer and you can check the data out on the ABS website. It is unfortunate for Peter and Mark that they have had bad experiences in the workplace but I would like to point out to Mark that his experience as a male in a female dominated workplace is the same story for many women in male dominated workplaces. Discrimination can occur on both sides - does the discrimination perpetrated against you mean that all discrimination agaist women should continue. I would have thought that you might be a little more understanding of the situation than most men. It is not a gender issue - it is an equity issue and should be treated as such. Turning this into a gender bashing debate trivialises the requirement of equity for all - a value that i would have thought was dear to all dedicated unionists.
Ditto Peter,
Working in a nice safe warm ergonomically designed workplace is a secure place from which Women can fire their anti male vitriol. I have worked in this (extremely unpleasant) environment for decades now, and I am sick of listening to my younger, female bosses constantly moaning about THEIR glass ceilings. The blatant anti male establishment within the Public Service (even the CPSU brags about the majority interests of females on this very website) has become insufferable. I have requested a move from my female dominated section to one with at least a sprinkling of males (yet another female boss, however we don't have any male bosses in my Centre) solely due to the sexist attitudes of my female dominated team. I would invite any of the few remaining males in Centrelink to read the people's handbook regarding harassment; if men were anywhere near as precious as our female counterparts in this organisation there would be no end to potential litigation, harassment claims, etc etc, but then I guess that's how "equality" works isn't it?
CPSU, as per your website, you may only value the overwhelming numbers of females within the safe warm walls of the Public Service, however you have lost me as a member with your sexist anti male attitude, and I don't believe I will be the last.
Before you jump to conclusions Peter(and speaking of comparing apples vs apples), you should identify the figures which demonstrates the difference in pay between men and women in the 'same type of work'. The examples you provided (ironically), was the very thing you complained about. Rather than adopting an emotive response, maybe you should attempt to compare apples vs apples (female vs male - scientist, doctor,architect,etc. Only then, will your point have any credibility.
Dear CPSU,
I am sick to death of this constant "women earn less than men" stuff that my union continually promotes.
If you compare apples with apples and you will find that women in the same position as men earn the same or even more money.
This furphy of "women earn less than men" is totally out of date and seeks to put men down.
What a lot of women do is take lower paid jobs like in banks, manufacturing or administration roles on purpose, to have an easier life and sacrifice money instead of working in cutting edge roles where there are higher wages.
All you are doing is continually putting men down who are prepared to work longer hours, take pressure jobs and give up an easier life in less stressful jobs and die younger.
Its about time that the whinging women that foster and promote this rubbish are told to get a life and move into the 21st century.
I suppose now I will be labelled sexist - which I am certainly not - but this will be the standard answer promoted by some women who have a male grudge.
regards,