In March, International Women’s Day is celebrated in Australia and many other parts of the world (8 March).
In essence, it celebrates the many achievements of women over the years, and remembers the countless women who have fought for the right to participate in society on an equal footing with men.
“Under the Howard Government’s unfair industrial relations laws, women in the workforce are suffering serious setbacks” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“When it comes to working life, there is little for Australian working women to celebrate in 2007.”
“Average Weekly Earnings figures show that the gender gap in pay between men and women has increased by 1.7% under the new WorkChoices laws, with women earning on average 83.6 cents in the male dollar in May 2006, compared with 85.3 cents in May 2004” Ms Vamvakinou said.
“ABS data also shows that Australian women on Australian Workplace Agreements, who work full-time, earn on average $2.30 less per hour or $87.40 less per week based on a standard 38 hour week, than those on collective agreements.”
“Australian women on AWAs who work part time, earn $3.70 less per hour or $85.10 less per week based on an average 23 hours per week, than those on collective agreements.”
“Women on AWAs who work as a casual employee, earn $4.70 less per hour for every hour they work, and on average that is 4.2 hours more than those on collective agreements.”
“And all working families in which one or more parent is on an AWA, also have to contend with less family friendly and flexible working conditions” Ms Vamvakinou said.
The last publicly released research conducted by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations showed that 82 per cent of all collective agreements contained family friendly and flexible working conditions.
“The Howard Government’s unfair IR laws are holding back Australian working women” Ms Vamvakinou said.
Contact: Alex Kouttab 0417 541 465
