Outworkers deserve pay justice

Date: 04 May 2000

Today's actions in the Federal Court against several employers on behalf of low-paid outworkers aim to set a benchmark for fair pay to cover one of Australia's most vulnerable groups of workers.

The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union (TCFU) is lodging documents at 12.30pm today in the Federal Court in Melbourne on behalf of eight outworkers who have been employed for periods of time ranging between 21 years and six weeks.

Two of the workers have received no payment for their work, and another worker was paid $3.50 per hour for work done in a factory and in her home. The cases will test the validity of several clauses of the Clothing Award.

ACTU President Sharan Burrow said it was shameful that 330,000 outworkers in Australia could be treated in a way that defied common living standards.

"The minimum basic wage in Australia has just risen to $400 through the ACTU's Living Wage claim. These people earn nothing like that because they are treated like a sub-standard form of contractor," said Ms Burrow.

"The union is asking the court for a legal definition for these outworkers. They have been forced into an underclass by employers who take advantage of their desperate circumstances.

"These vulnerable workers need protection from this sort of abuse by unscrupulous employers. They deserve award entitlements and that is what the union and the ACTU will be looking to the Federal Court for. This is a strong case for wage justice."

Ms Burrow, who took up the position of ACTU President this week, will join outworkers and TCFU officials at the Federal Court in Melbourne today at 12.30pm when the documents are lodged.

For further information

Contact:	ACTU Media Office: Brenda Finlayson
Union:	ACTU
Phone:	0413 507 260
WWW:	http://www.actu.asn.au/

LaborNET is proudly created, designed and programmed
by Social Change Online for the Labor Council of NSW
[Credits] [Site Matters]