Poor Enviroment for Workers

Surge Of Low Paid Jobs Confirmed With Today’s ABS Earnings Data 19 August 2004

ABS data released today shows a drop in average weekly earnings - confirming there has been a surge in low paid jobs in the economy says the ACTU.
Commenting on the latest ABS data, ACTU President Sharan Burrow said:
“Today’s ABS data shows there has been a fall of 0.5% in all employees total earnings over the last quarter with average wages now standing at $747.70 a week, in seasonally adjusted terms.
It is very unlikely there has been a wage cut for employees at the top end, and so this new data is proof that low paid jobs are surging.
ACTU research shows:

Almost two out of every three net new jobs created in the last three years paid less than $600 a week - less than $31,200 a year (see table below).
Almost one million Australians are working overtime but not being paid for it. This is an increase of almost a quarter (23.8%) since 1996.

There are now more than 2.2 million casual workers - an increase of 22% since 1996.
Part time jobs growth continues to outstrip full time jobs growth with no full time jobs created in the last month but an extra 21,600 part-time jobs.
More than 28% of the total workforce are now in part time work and yet research shows there are more than 600,000 part time workers wanting more hours of work.

http://www.actu.asn.au/public/news/1092895398_16170.html for full article from ACTU website.