Struggling for equity and justice
by Katrina Kalleske
Australia and the United States are the only two developed countries without a paid maternity leave scheme. This issue, along with pay equity and justice at work, was the focus of the first in a series of work-related forums at the Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre at UniSA.
According to Professor Barbara Pocock, Director of UniSA’s Centre for Work and Life who spoke at the event, over the past 20 years our behaviour has run ahead of our regulation in Australia.
"With almost one in two workers being women, and nearly one in two of those with caring responsibili-ties, our institutional frameworks are now out of date," she said.
Prof Pocock said these sustainable and equitable work issues are important for men and women.
"Figures show that 60 per cent of workers have no say in their start and finish times at work; and 57 per cent cannot choose to work extra hours in order to take time off," she said.
"One in five employees are working more than 49 hours a week; so it’s no wonder that 52.4 per cent of women and 43.2 per cent of men ‘often or almost always feel rushed and pressed for time’ according to ABS figures.
"We need a more flexible system. Our Australian Government frameworks are limping along at the moment."
Long-time colleagues of Prof Pocock, Associate Professor Marian Baird from the University of Sydney and Senior Lecturer Trish Todd from the University of Western Australia, also spoke at the March forum along with Dr Margaret Hallock from the Wayne Morse Centre for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon.
A/Prof Baird said she can’t understand why it’s so hard for the Federal Parliament to pass a national paid maternity leave scheme.
"The Productivity Commission has undertaken an inquiry into a paid maternity leave scheme for Australia and it recommended that a scheme could and should be implemented," she said.
"A scheme being implemented in Australia would help us to meet international standards; help us to achieve equity at work and home; achieve equity in policy; and achieve justice for all women.
"The main people it would help is low income and low skill workers.
"We are going through a time when more money is needed and a paid maternity leave scheme would be good stimulus for the economy."
The second in this series of forums was held in early April and the focus shifted to the environmental connection to a better work and life balance. For example, it was suggested that if a four-day working week was implemented, people would have more time for their family and friends, and less resources would be spent on powering work environments.
A third forum will be held in June, again focusing on how important work and life balance is to remaining healthy and the community costs if this is not achieved.
Executive Director of the Hawke Centre, Elizabeth Ho, said this series of forums goes to the heart of what the Hawke Centre represents.
"The Centre is named after former PM Bob Hawke who had a great reputation for defending fair work practices, while also creating a climate of consensus so that Australia could compete in a globalised economy," she said.
"In December this year Bob Hawke will turn 80, and it is very fitting that we are heralding this milestone with a special focus on increasing fairness in contemporary working life."
For more details about the upcoming forums, go to www.hawkecentre.unisa.edu.au