Survey into paid maternity leave, sex-based harassment initiatives and the gender pay gap
Over 2,300 reporting organisations participated in the 2009 survey representing more than one million female employees. This report is the second in a suite of EOWA surveys examining gender issues in the workplace.
An Australian Government Agency, the Equal Opportunity for Women
in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) consults with Australian
employers annually regarding their equal opportunity
initiatives. EOWA’s vision is to achieve equal opportunity for
women in Australian workplaces. In addition to annual reporting,
EOWA leads Australian employers to create workplaces where
women’s contribution is equally valued, recognised and rewarded
through a variety of programs. These include educational
services, the EOWA Business Achievement Awards, Employer of
Choice for Women citation and numerous publications, including
the EOWA Census of Women in Leadership, which engage
community debate and increase the rate of change.
Moving forward: Women's journeys after leaving an abusive relationship
This report presents findings from a literature review and qualitative research project under taken with women who have left a domestic violence relationship and staff who have experience working with these women. The research was undertaken by the Social Policy and Research team at The Benevolent Society
Northern Territory student attendance 2005 to 2007
This document reports on the student attendance rate for NT DEET schools during 2005 to 2007. It compares the student attendance rate and the average weekly enrolment for all NT DEET students.
On average, students from NT government schools attend for just over 4 days of a 5-day week. That is, on average, they are missing almost one day per week. However Indigenous students are attending school for about one day per week less than non-Indigenous students. Non-Indigenous students attend, on average, for about 41⁄2 days of a 5-day week (or 9 days of a 10-day fortnight), whereas, Indigenous students attend about 31⁄2 days a week (or 7 days per fortnight). That is, on average, non-Indigenous students are missing about a 1⁄2 day a week and Indigenous students are missing about 11⁄2 days.
Corporate Social Responsibility
The Australian Human Rights Commission has developed four short fact sheets setting out five basic steps towards integrating human rights into everyday business practices.
Fact Sheet 1 explains how human rights are relevant to Australian companies and the business case for integrating human rights. It also provides links to practical tools. Fact sheets 2 - 4 focus on the specific human rights issues and practical tools relevant to:
Issue 1 September 2009
New poll: Australians want workplace safety rights protected under new OHS laws
A new national poll has revealed eight out of ten Australians (78%) believe employers should do more to protect the health and safety of their workers, even if it means more costs or red tape for their business.ACTU Secretary Jeff Lawrence said it was clear the State, Territory and Federal Governments were not doing enough to consult workers on proposed changes to health and safety laws.
The national poll of 1,013 respondents was conducted by Essential Research 25-30 August. It finds nearly seven out of ten workers (67%) are not aware that the governments are working together to standardise the national occupational health and safety laws.
Workers will hold a series of protest rallies across the country today (Tuesday 1 Sept.) calling on Federal and State Governments to oppose the watering down of existing workplace safety rights.
Unions are concerned the proposed new national workplace health and safety laws will reduce the existing rights and protections for many Australian workers, Mr Lawrence said.
The changes will reduce the power of employees while giving greater power to employers.
But this poll shows the Australian public don’t want workplace safety rights undermined.
It is essential that the Federal Government does not cave in to pressure from major employers and business lobby groups on this fundamental issue for workers.
The poll shows there is significant support in the Australian community for stronger rights and protections for workers and an ongoing role for unions in checking workplaces where employees are worried they are in danger.
The poll finds 81 per cent of those surveyed agreed workers should have the right to call in help from a
union to check on health and safety issues regardless of their employers approval.
There is also strong public resistance to moves by employers to deny injured workers the right to prosecute employers under workplace health and safety laws.
Seven out of ten Australians (69%) believe that injured workers should be able to take their employer to court under workplace health and safety laws.
Workplace safety is a priority issue. The death toll from workplace disease and injury is estimated to be more than four times the annual road toll.
More needs to be done to reduce the cost to society of workplace illness, injury and death and that must start with best-practice national OHS laws.
The Federal Government was elected on a commitment to protect the rights of working people.
Any reduction of health and safety in the workplace would breach that commitment and undermine improvements in other areas of Federal IR laws to strengthen worker’s rights, Mr Lawrence said.
ACTU, 1/09/2009