New figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that women are worse off under the Howard Government’s extreme new workplace laws.
The ABS figures reveal that under Work Choices, women employed on Australian Workplace Agreements (AWA’s) earn less per hour than women employed under a collective agreement.
On average, women working full-time under an AWA earn $2.30 less an hour than women on a collective agreement. Women working part-time earn on average $3.70 less and casuals earn a staggering $4.70 less.
The massive pay gap between women on AWA’s and those on collective agreements working in casual employment is particularly alarming. Women are over-represented in highly casualised industries, such as retail and hospitality, this mean that the widening pay gap is hitting women the hardest.
Although the figures relate to May 2006, capturing the effects of only the first two months of Work Choices, it can only be expected the pay gap will continue to widen as more and more workers are forced onto AWA’s without the protection of a no disadvantage test.
How can this Government continue to say that workers are better off under Work Choices when these ABS figures make it plainly obvious that women employed under AWA’s are being paid less?
Women, particularly in lower paid industries that have traditionally relied on award conditions and pay, such as hospitality, retail and care industries, are doing it tougher under Howard’s new laws.
Labor will restore the balance between employers and employees in the workplace to ensure all workers get a fair go at work.
Contact: Rachel Allen – 0418 488 295
