Labor has announced it will change the Fair Work Act to make it clear that the Commission must consider pay equity a central objective of the workplace relations system, as well as give the Commission greater capacity and funding to conduct Pay Equity Reviews.

Summary

LABOR’S FAIR GO PLAN TO HELP CLOSE THE GENDER PAY GAP

Labor will deliver a fair go for Australian women by strengthening the ability of the Fair Work Commission to order pay increases for workers in female dominated industries such as early childhood, aged care, and disability services.

Labor will change the Fair Work Act to make it clear that the Commission must consider pay equity a central objective of the workplace relations system.

Labor will give the Commission greater capacity and funding to conduct Pay Equity Reviews and order pay increases in undervalued feminised industries. Low paid workers should not have to rely on fighting complex, expensive legal cases to secure a decent wage rise.

Pay Equity Reviews will be conducted by a new Presidential member of the Commission, supported by an expert Pay Equity Panel.

We don’t need to compare female dominated jobs with male dominated jobs to know that female dominated industries are often poorly paid – that’s just a fact. So we will change the Fair Work Act to make it clear that establishing undervaluation of female dominated industries does not require a male comparator.

These reforms are an important part of Labor’s plan to close the gender pay gap. A fair go for all Australians means fair pay and conditions for Australian women.

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