This submission is being made by The National Foundation for Australian Women (NFAW).
We are responding to the terms of reference through a gender lens. Women’s workforce participation reflects their role as unpaid carers as it changes over the working lifecycle. The industrial relations framework penalises women as it is based on the male breadwinner model, while the tax-transfer system imposes high EMTRs on second incomes and gender segregation limits career progression. Structural change is needed to address barriers to female workforce participation: patching the existing system will not be enough. The challenges are systemic: all departments and agencies are urged to adopt gender impact analysis to identify the effects of policies.
Our discussion addresses the following intersecting Terms of Reference:
ToR 2. Future of work and the implications of structural change
ToR 2.1 Care economy
ToR 2.2 Energy transition and tackling climate change
ToR 3 Job security, fair pay and conditions
ToR 4: Pay equity and equal opportunities for women
ToR 5.0 Labour force participation:
ToR 5.1: Reducing barriers and disincentives to work: working time issues
ToR 5.2: Reducing barriers and disincentives to work: discrimination and harassment
ToR 5.3: Skills, education and training, upskilling and reskilling
ToR 5.4 Migration