Published to coincide with the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) review of its trade policies.“In several areas there continue to be serious implications for workers’ and union rights on a daily basis, including ongoing restrictions on the level of bargaining, industrial action and the content of collective agreements,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow. “The Fair Work Act 2009 requires further improvements so as to ensure employees benefit fully from their rights in conformity with ILO Conventions 87 and 98.” The situation is especially serious in the building and construction industry, where special laws continue to operate despite being in breach of international standards on freedom of association. Furthermore, workers cannot take industrial action when bargaining with multiple employers unless they form a single interest group. The report also finds that Australia has laws on racial, ethnic, disability and sexual orientation discrimination that generally conform with international standards. However, the government needs to do more to make sure that women’s equal rights are respected in practice, as women face a significant pay gap and are underrepresented in senior positions. Indigenous people continue to face substantial disadvantage and discrimination in employment.
Full ITUC article at http://www.ituc-csi.org/australia-time-to-improve-workers.html
Full ITUC report on Australia at http://www.ituc-csi.org/report-for-the-wto-general-council,8824.html
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