Published Thursday, 08 March, 2007 at 10:13 AM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
NEW GENDER PAY EQUITY INQUIRY TARGETS WOMEN WORKERS
The Queensland Government will carry out a review of gender pay equity to see how gains made by women workers can be protected from Work Choices.
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the investigations would review gains made in pay equity in Queensland and explore how they could be enshrined.
“Women workers have come a long way in the last few decades and this is why we are asking the independent umpire – the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) – to review the gains made in this state in recent years,” Mr Mickel said.
“For more than a century women have fought for decent working conditions. These conditions are now threatened thanks to John Howard’s Work Choices - just when women were benefiting from the Beattie Government’s legislated Equal Remuneration Principle of equal pay for work of equal or comparable value.
“The gender pay gap in Australia will grow under Work Choices and the greatest losers will be women in casual and part-time employment.
“The latest ABS figures shows 61% of women working part time want extra work.
“Women earn less than 85 per cent of men’s earnings generally, but those on Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) earn only 70 per cent of what men on AWAs do. Women on AWAs fare worse than those on collective agreements.
“ABS figures also show working women on AWAs earn less than women on collective agreements – up to $4.70 less an hour.”
Mr Mickel said that under Work Choices, lost collective remedies and award classifications would mean lost pay equity gains for women - as will the loss of the no disadvantage test and decimated unfair dismissal laws.
“By contrast, the Queensland Government wants women to enjoy the benefits of our booming state economy and jobs growth,” he said.
“We know that inequality robs women of economic security and independence, career advancement, decent work and living standards and, for the most vulnerable, traps women and their children in poverty.
“Australia needs more women in the workforce – now more than ever – to offset skill and labour shortages.”
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
8 March, 2007
Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the investigations would review gains made in pay equity in Queensland and explore how they could be enshrined.
“Women workers have come a long way in the last few decades and this is why we are asking the independent umpire – the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) – to review the gains made in this state in recent years,” Mr Mickel said.
“For more than a century women have fought for decent working conditions. These conditions are now threatened thanks to John Howard’s Work Choices - just when women were benefiting from the Beattie Government’s legislated Equal Remuneration Principle of equal pay for work of equal or comparable value.
“The gender pay gap in Australia will grow under Work Choices and the greatest losers will be women in casual and part-time employment.
“The latest ABS figures shows 61% of women working part time want extra work.
“Women earn less than 85 per cent of men’s earnings generally, but those on Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) earn only 70 per cent of what men on AWAs do. Women on AWAs fare worse than those on collective agreements.
“ABS figures also show working women on AWAs earn less than women on collective agreements – up to $4.70 less an hour.”
Mr Mickel said that under Work Choices, lost collective remedies and award classifications would mean lost pay equity gains for women - as will the loss of the no disadvantage test and decimated unfair dismissal laws.
“By contrast, the Queensland Government wants women to enjoy the benefits of our booming state economy and jobs growth,” he said.
“We know that inequality robs women of economic security and independence, career advancement, decent work and living standards and, for the most vulnerable, traps women and their children in poverty.
“Australia needs more women in the workforce – now more than ever – to offset skill and labour shortages.”
Media Contacts: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
8 March, 2007