What is insecure work?
Around 40% of workers are engaged in insecure work arrangements such as casual work, fixed term work, contracting or labour hire.
Most of these workers don’t enjoy the same rights as permanent workers, earn less, have no access to sick or holiday leave and can lose their jobs at short notice without redundancy. For many Australians insecure work is not a choice – it is all they can get.
What are the impacts of insecure work on workers and their families?
Insecure work can have a huge cost for workers and their families. Many insecure workers experience:
- Fewer rights and benefits
- Reduced or non-existent job security
- Lower pay
- Reduced access to skill and career development
- Increased risks of work-related injury
- Reduced representation rights
- Income insecurity
Don’t some people prefer casual or contract work ?
Business says that casual work gives you a choice. That’s true for some people who don’t want a long-term job. But for many more Australians, casual work is not a choice – it is all they can get. Instead of a secure job with rights and protections, they go to work each day not knowing if it will be their last. Two million workers are now employed as casuals.
Why are so many people employed in insecure work?
For many employers it is cheaper to employ people casually or on contract. They don’t have to factor in holidays for insecure workers or pay them when they are sick or on public holidays. They have a lower administrative burden and can dismiss people on a whim.
Are insecure work arrangements on the rise?
The prevalence of insecure work is spreading through many industries. Even 16% of teachers are now on short term contracts with no job security.
What industries employ the most insecure workers?
Casuals are the most common form of insecure worker. The accommodation and food services industry have 20% of all casual workers and the retail industry have 19%. Two thirds of all hospitality workers are casual. There are also high numbers of casual workers in agriculture, forestry and fishing, administration and labouring.
How many people are on fixed contracts?
Between 4% and 9% of the Australian workforce are on fixed term contracts. These workers experience great uncertainty in their job security and are less likely to have access to training and career development opportunities.
Most fixed term contractors are in the education and training industry and there are also many on fixed term contracts n the public administration industry.
What rights do independent contractors have?
There are over a million independent contractors in Australia. In general, independent contractors are not entitled to the minimum wage, minimum conditions of employment or protections of unfair dismissal. They do not have access to Fair Work Australia to settle disputes.
Most independent contractors are men in the 35 to 43 age group and more than a third are in the construction industry. A quarter of all workers in administrative and support services are also on independent contracts.
Is labour hire an issue in Australia?
Around 5% of the Australian workforce is hired through labour hire companies. These workers are casuals or contractors and can experience low pay, low job security and no sick or holiday pay.
What can be done to improve the situation for insecure workers?
There are a range of actions that can be taken to improve the lives of insecure workers. These include better enforcement of existing laws, improving the rights and employment standards of insecure workers, bargaining for better wages and conditions of work and more secure jobs, and preventing the abuse of non-standard types of employment.