• a very high proportion of small workplaces;
• a predominantly female workforce (87%);
• a high proportion of part time (56%) and casual (20%) employment;
• a lack of ability for widespread collective bargaining to occur;
• that workers in the community services sector are more likely to have a post school qualification than other workers but have lower weekly income;
• and low wages.

The report also states that it is not appropriate that the work of community sector workers is undervalued because it has the characteristic of the feminine attribute of a "caring" vocation, and goes further to say that it is appropriate for Government to assist the sector to achieve pay equity through funding standards that are designed to progress pay equity (p71 Report).

The Inquiry has recommended that:

The Queensland Government actively investigate and support measures to establish pay equity benchmarks as the basis for funding the not-for-profit community sector and for purchasing outsourced services.  This could include providing funding and technical support for the making of a new common rule award for the community sector that contains a classification and remuneration system which is properly valued in accordance with the Equal remuneration Principle, and which takes into account the inability of employees in the community sector to access enterprise bargaining.

If this recommendation is adopted it could mean major improvements to the wages and working conditions of community sector workers.

The full report can be downloaded from: www.qirc.qld.gov.au/inquiry/pay_equity/final/final_report.htm.

Source: QCOSS E-Mail News Issue 39

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