Inquiry into pay equity and female participation in the workforce

Executive, 28 July 2008

Report adopted

On 26 June, The House of Representatives Employment and Workplace Relations Committee announced an inquiry to investigate the causes of any potential disadvantages in relation to women's participation in the workforce such as pay equity. The committee will examine:

• The adequacy of current data to reliably monitor employment changes that may impact on pay equity issues;

• The need for education and information among employers, employees and trade unions in relation to pay equity issues;

• Current structural arrangements in the negotiation of wages that may impact disproportionately on women;

• The adequacy of recent and current equal remuneration provisions in state and federal workplace relations legislation;

• The adequacy of current arrangements to ensure fair access to training and promotion for women who have taken maternity leave and/or returned to work part time and/or sought flexible work hours; and

• The need for further legislative reform to address pay equity in Australia. Submissions close on 28 August 2008, after which the Committee will hold public hearings.

The discussion paper calls on the federal government to address pay equity in a meaningful way as is possible under the NSW Industrial relations System which allows for the Commission to examine the work, classification structures and conditions under which work is performed to ensure that Awards and Agreements are able to be adjusted to ensure that equal or comparable worth is recognised.

The PSA has been invited to make a submission to the inquiry. The PSA Women's Unit is currently working with our federal union, CPSU SPSF, on a draft submission for consideration by the General Secretary.

The Committee's site for this inquiry is Inquiry into pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce.