NEW STUDY HIGHLIGHTS WORK CHOICES IMPACT ON WOMEN WORKERS
Published Friday, 10 August, 2007 at 01:47 PM
Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
A survey commissioned by the Queensland Government has found the majority of women working under minimum conditions who made up the study lost their jobs and had pay cuts, says Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel.
Mr Mickel said the report, “Tipping the scales”, which surveyed 20 Queensland women aged 19-59 years, showed Work Choices failed to provide a safety net for all workers and had contributed to an erosion of employment standards.
“Rather than promoting workplace negotiation and bargaining, Work Choices has had the opposite effect,” he said.
“The survey does not purport to represent all workers’ or women’s experiences, but it illustrates how Work Choices can impact on workplaces of minimum condition workers - those most in need of a safety net of some description.
“Speaking up at a time when unfair dismissal laws have been abolished often resulted in their sacking. Access to union support and help was also blocked.”
Mr Mickel said the Queensland University survey, conducted by Associate Professor Gillian Whitehouse, was part of a national report to be released in August.
Women interviewed included workers from non-English speaking backgrounds and women working in cleaning, retail, accommodation, food and office administration.
“The Queensland report highlights the increased work loads, poorer job security and pay cuts evident for women on minimum conditions,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the report supported the Government’s establishment of the Queensland Workplace Rights Office and providing workers with free advice through a number of agencies.
He looked forward to recommendations out of the national report likely to focus on improvements for women working in the contract cleaning, community care and retail and hospitality sectors.
Media contact: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
August 10, 2007
Mr Mickel said the report, “Tipping the scales”, which surveyed 20 Queensland women aged 19-59 years, showed Work Choices failed to provide a safety net for all workers and had contributed to an erosion of employment standards.
“Rather than promoting workplace negotiation and bargaining, Work Choices has had the opposite effect,” he said.
“The survey does not purport to represent all workers’ or women’s experiences, but it illustrates how Work Choices can impact on workplaces of minimum condition workers - those most in need of a safety net of some description.
“Speaking up at a time when unfair dismissal laws have been abolished often resulted in their sacking. Access to union support and help was also blocked.”
Mr Mickel said the Queensland University survey, conducted by Associate Professor Gillian Whitehouse, was part of a national report to be released in August.
Women interviewed included workers from non-English speaking backgrounds and women working in cleaning, retail, accommodation, food and office administration.
“The Queensland report highlights the increased work loads, poorer job security and pay cuts evident for women on minimum conditions,” Mr Mickel said.
Mr Mickel said the report supported the Government’s establishment of the Queensland Workplace Rights Office and providing workers with free advice through a number of agencies.
He looked forward to recommendations out of the national report likely to focus on improvements for women working in the contract cleaning, community care and retail and hospitality sectors.
Media contact: Chris Brown on 3224 7349 or Elouise Campion on 3224 6784
August 10, 2007