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General
Equity Issues
WorkChoices worsens women’s pay gap
The pay gap between men and women has widened under the Howard Government, with women on AWA individual contracts falling furthest behind.
In a keynote address to a national conference, Shaping the Future of Women in Australia, in Sydney today, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
"The most recent data shows the gap between men and women's earnings has widened in the past three years.
Full-time women now earn only 84 cents for every dollar earned by a man - a drop from three years ago, when it was 87 cents for every dollar.
"Workplace Relations Minister Joe Hockey's claim that the wages gap between men and women has narrowed under the Howard Govt is simply not supported by the evidence. Mr Hockey is wrong again.
"Research shows the Government's unfair IR laws have particularly hurt women on AWA individual contracts with women on AWAs only earning 81 cents for every dollar earned by men on AWAs while women on collective agreements faring better, earning 90 cents for every dollar earned by men.
"Women on AWAs are earning on average $87 less per week than their counterparts on collective agreements and for part-time women, the difference can be as much as $140 per week.
"Australia's booming economy is also leaving women worse off.
"In July 2007, wage costs in higher-paid, male-dominated industries such as mining & construction were growing three times faster than wage costs in low paid sectors such as retail & hospitality, where many women are employed," said the ACTU President.
Ms Burrow said today's conference would also discuss strategies to improve paid maternity leave, promote accessible childcare, support women in leadership, and increase women's influence on public policy during the coming election and beyond.
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