Workers tell their stories in national insecure work enquiry hearings

On Monday morning in Brisbane, workers engaged in insecure jobs had the chance to tell the Howe Inquiry how the issue impacts on their lives, their families and their budgets. The hearing was the first of two dozen to be held across Australia.

The nationwide public hearings are part of the inquiry into insecure work, chaired by former Deputy Prime Minister Brian Howe, which is investigating the growth of insecure jobs and how it affects lives and communities right across the country.

Howe said 40% of Australian workers are employed in insecure jobs and it is important that they are able to tell their stories, as part of the means to identify possible solutions.

Monday’s session heard from workers in the airline, education, road transport and logistics and food manufacturing industries. These workers’ arrangements include casual and labour hire employment.

The inquiry sits in Mackay today and Townsville on Wednesday, before moving to Western Australia and New South Wales. The panel will then visit Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory. In total, hearings will be held at 23 locations, concluding in Melbourne on 22 March.

Howe said that while the growth of insecure work mirrors global trends, the development had been more pronounced in Australia.

“Casual workers now make up almost one quarter of Australian employees, and fixed-term contracts, independent contracting, labour hire and new forms of outwork are all growing in different industries,” he said. “Many of these jobs deny workers the reliable income, permanency, security, and conditions and entitlements that permanent jobs offer.

“Related to these trends are persistent long-term unemployment and very large numbers of workers experiencing ‘underemployment’. Together, 1.5 million Australians of working age are either unemployed or underemployed.”

Among the issues to be considered by the panel during the inquiry are:

• The extent of insecure work and its causes and effects;
• The workers that are most at risk of insecure work and why;
• The social and economic cost of insecure work to employees, employers, government and the Australian community; and
• The rights and entitlements that can best assist to provide security for workers.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said job security was one of, if not the most important issues affecting the Australian workforce right now.

“We have seen recently just how easy it is for major employers to cut jobs and turn people’s lives upside down,” she said.

The inquiry has been swamped with more than 500 submissions, with around 450 workers eager to tell their stories. The submissions also include about 50 from community groups, unions, academics and other organisations.

Submissions can be downloaded and the full hearing schedule is available at securejobs.org.au.