Permanent, secure and decently paid work required to attack gender pay gap

economic Security4Women backs the call for employment conditions that support workforce participation of women and men with care responsibilities, including flexibility in permanent work arrangements. We do not see insecure part time and casual work as a viable option.

EOWA’s Media Release – Friday 17, August 2012 states

Work flexibility needed to attack gender pay gap

New data shows the gender pay gap between women and men remains stubbornly high at 17.5 per cent.[i]

The new figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that women working full time earn on average $1,193.50 per week.  Men pocket an extra $252.80, earning $1446.30 per week.

The financial and insurance sector has overtaken the health care and social assistance sector as the industry with the largest gender pay gap at 32.7 per cent.

Helen Conway, Director of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA), says: “Workers, primarily women, who interrupt their careers to care for their families suffer career and financial disadvantage which contributes to the gender pay gap.”