Gender Pay Gap Data Highlights Benefits Of Flexible Work Arrangements

ACTU calls for greater action


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The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) says the federal government’s gender pay gap data highlights the benefits of flexible work adopted by a wide range of Australian employers.

Released today, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency scorecard found over two thirds (68.3 per cent) of employers surveyed have a policy to allow people with caring responsibilities to move into and out of casual or part time work.

“This scorecard shows how far we still have to go to achieve pay equality," said ACTU President Ged Kearney.

"The full time pay gap stands at more than $26,000, women are under-represented in management, and even in new appointments to management positions.”

“Despite the increasing number of companies which are taking action to address the pay gap, the Turnbull Government has been silent on this issue.”

Only a quarter of workplaces which have a flexibility policy have manager training to help implement that policy, and until flexible working arrangements are available in all workplaces, the ACTU says women will be left worse off.

A survey conducted by the ACTU earlier this year shows that 85 per cent of Australians have some form of caring responsibility.

They have called for "enshrining secure flexibility in working arrangements in the award system", arguing this would "enable women to stay in the workforce for longer", and "minimise lost earnings".

Troy Nankervis

17 November 2017

Article by:

Troy Nankervis




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