Media Releases
Women can't win
23/10/2008
The fight by women for equality and freedom from discrimination continues, especially in the workplace where women continue to get a raw deal, according tho the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
Speaking at Women’ Health Grampians Annual General Meeting, the Commission’s chief executive officer, Dr Helen Szoke said women will need to use all of their collective might to ensure that basic advances in human rights and equality are not compromised in these difficult times.
‘The repercussions of the global financial crisis are likely to impact heavily on women’s lives, however, the workplace issues women are fighting for will essentially remain the same,’ she said.
‘What is happening to women can be broadly summed up as greater workforce participation, higher rates of casualisation, increased strain on managing work and the rest of our lives’, said Dr Szoke. ‘However, women are very clear where the solutions lie.’
Recent research by the Commission, Women’s Rights and Equality: What do they want now?, found that women want equity, flexibility, job security, paid maternity leave, and the right to request flexible work conditions.
‘These are the challenges that face us today – how we respond to the pressures of the day, but continue to modernise the concept of equal opportunity so that it actually works for women’, said Dr Szoke. ‘The continuing clash between productivity and home life means that the structure of the work place needs to change.’
From September, Victorian employers have been required by law to consider requests for flexible work arrangements from an employee or job applicant with family responsibilities. Such requests could relate to hours of work, break times, rosters, overtime, scheduling of staff meetings, and leave arrangements.
‘This is a great development for men and women who are balancing family or carer responsibilities with their work commitments,’ Dr Szoke said. ‘Employers are not compelled to agree to requests for changed work arrangements but they must reasonably consider them.’
The Commission educates people about their rights and responsibilities, and helps people resolve complaints of discrimination, sexual harassment and racial and religious vilification.
The Commission conducts a program of regional activities across Victoria to gain insight and feedback from people from all walks of life.
Dr Helen Szoke is available for interview - please contact Janeen Lynch on 0419 337 734.
Patty Kinnersly, CEO Women's Health Grampians, 0419 185 777.
