Wed, 01/02/2012

YWCA Australia today welcomes Fair Work Australia’s order to increase the wages of the predominantly female workforce in the community sector. In May 2011 Fair Work Australia recognised that there is a gap in pay between community sector workers and comparable state and local government workers and that gender has been important in creating the gap.

“It’s an historic day for women workers in Australia,” said Dr. Caroline Lambert, Executive Director of YWCA Australia, “we are hopeful that this decision will significantly reduce the gender wage gap in Australia.

 “Low wages in this sector, which provides support to some of the most disadvantaged people and communities in Australia, affects the economic security of many women (both their standard of living and ability to save for retirement). It also affects the viability of many organisations and services which must compete for staff with the government and private sectors,” said Dr. Lambert. 

While welcoming the order, YWCA Australia will work with colleagues in the sector to ensure that the eight year implementation period mandated by Fair Work Australia does not undermine service effectiveness.

In November 2011 YWCA Australia welcomed the Australian Government’s commitment to fund the wage rise.

 “It is vital now that all governments in Australia commit to funding any pay increases arising from this case. However, this is only a partial response to the issue of pay equity in the sector. Many community services organisations, including YWCAs across Australia, are partly funded by non-government sources, including donations, corporate sponsorship, investment returns and social enterprises. Community service organisations with multiple funding sources also need to be able to meet wage cost increases without a reduction in services. We hope that the ASU equal pay case increases awareness in the general community of the true costs of providing quality community services and leads to increased valuing of the sector’s work across the whole of the Australian community,” said Dr. Lambert.