Earlier this year the Federal Minister for the Status of Women announced a Review of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace and Agency (EOWA) and its underlying legislation (EOWW Act).
The review comes at a time when indicators show a decline in women’s workplace equality. Currently, only 8.3% of Board Directorships are held by women and the pay gap between male and female full-time earners has increased to 17.2% cent.
The Centre’s submission to the review, A Human Rights Approach to Equality for Women in the Workplace, argues that the EOWW Act would be a more effective and powerful instrument if it were to reflected international human rights standards.
A human rights approach to equality for women in the workplace would require that legislation, regulation, monitoring and reporting systems be developed with a focus on positive measures to achieve substantive equality. The Centre made 23 recommendations, including that:
- employers should be required report on ‘priority issues’ (such as training opportunities, remuneration and parental leave) and ensure that issues identified are addressed within specified timeframes;
- the role of the EOWA should be extended to allow it to instigate investigations of non-compliance with workplace equality programs;
- accountability mechanisms should be implemented; and
- a quota system for female representation on government-controlled boards should be introduced.
The Centre would like to thank Clayton Utz for their substantial assistance in the research and drafting of the submission.
