|
Issue No. 144 | 12 July 2002 |
The Lotto Economy
Interview: Capital in Crisis Industrial: No Sweat Bad Boss: Super Spam History: Living Treasures International: Axis of Evil Solidarity: Pride of Place Technology: The Art of Cyber-Unionism Poetry: The Masochism Tango Satire: Foxtel-Optus Merger 'Anti-Repetitive' Review: Bob Carr's Thoughtlines
Sweat Shops � Coming To A Street Near You Glassworkers Walk for the Umpire Drivers Frozen Out by Corporate Spin Coca-Cola Brews Storm In A Tea Cup Bush Prepares for War on the Wharves Safety Summit A Hit With Unions Beattie Faces Bargaining Face-Off Casual Work Exploits � Catholic Church Agency More Effort Required On Disabled Workers Protecting Security Officers From Disease
The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Postcard Week in Review
GST Agenda Amanda's Mediocrity Capital Ideas
Labor Council of NSW |
News Family Friendly For A Buck
Under an ACTU-designed scheme 87% of working mothers would be eligible for 14 weeks� leave on full pay, with others receiving at least average weekly earnings. Currently only 24% of private sector employees have access to paid maternity leave, which spans an average of just six weeks in state agreements and two weeks in federal agreements.
According to an ACTU submission presented to sex discrimination commissioner Pru Goward this week, payments up to the minimum wage would be funded by the Commonwealth, with the difference between this sum and actual average weekly earnings met by a $1 employer levy.
The scheme would bring Australia into line with international paid maternity leave standards and would cost the federal government about $100m less over four years than the current baby bonus scheme.
The ACTU says its model recognises the importance of giving mothers a chance to recover from childbirth, gives time for parent/child bonding to occur, and gives breast-feeding the best chance of success - without forcing mothers to endure economic hardship as a result.
Aside from addressing the discrimination many women suffer when they "seek to combine their re-productive and productive roles", the ACTU says there are significant economic benefits to its scheme.
According to ACTU president Sharan Burrow, the paid maternity leave scheme would deliver "significant economic benefits to employers who need to retain skilled employees while providing some much needed balance between work and family for many women, and their children and partners.
"Paid maternity leave is long overdue in Australia as we are one of the last countries in the developed world that still tolerates discrimination against women for having families," she says.
|
Search All Issues | Latest Issue | Previous Issues | Print Latest Issue |
© 1999-2002 Workers Online |
|