House of Representatives Inquiry into pay equity

On 26 June 2008 the Acting Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, asked the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment and Workplace Relations  to inquire into and report on pay equity and associated issues related to increasing female participation in the workforce.

The terms of reference of this Inquiry include, but are not limited to:

• The adequacy of current data to reliably monitor employment changes that may impact on pay equity issues;
• The need for education and information among employers, employees and trade unions in relation to pay equity issues;
• Current structural arrangements in the negotiation of wages that may impact disproportionately on women;
• The adequacy of recent and current equal remuneration provisions in state and federal workplace relations legislation;
• The adequacy of current arrangements to ensure fair access to training and promotion for women who have taken maternity leave and/or returned to work part time and/or sought flexible work hours; and
• The need for further legislative reform to address pay equity in Australia.

NFAW is making two submissions to this Inquiry.  NFAW's major submission addresses the terms of reference of the Inquiry and will be published once it has been considered by the Committee.  The second submission, prepared with the Australian Federation of University Women and the Victorian Women's Information and Referral Service, addresses the inadequacy of current out of school hours care policies and programs.  

This submission is available on the Standing Committee's website.