The Implications for Victorian Low Paid Workers of Changes in Industrial Relations Legislation

Scope of the research:
The purpose of the study is to identify the impact of the WorkChoices legislation on the employment conditions and entitlements of low paid workers.  Specifically, the study will identify the effect of the changes on wages, working hours, employment entitlements, job security, work intensity and workplace health and safety.  Additionally, the study will examine changes in employment conditions across five localities: CBD, suburban fringe, sea/tree change, rural and less favoured region.  The study is being partially funded by the Victorian Office of the Workplace Rights Advocate which is required to monitor and track the impact of WorkChoices, particularly with respect to women, young people and the low paid.

Project details:
The study will involve a survey of low paid workers across the five localities exploring changes in terms and conditions of employments (that is, what changed, when and why). This will be followed a series of semi-structured interviews with low paid workers in each locality in order to explore issues raise in the survey in greater depth.

Researchers:
Dr Sandra Cockfield, sandra.cockfield@buseco.monash.edu.au
Dr Donna Buttigieg, donna.buttigieg@buseco.monash.edu.au
Dr Marjorie Jerrard, marjorie.jerrard@buseco.monash.edu.au
Professor Al Rainnie, afr4@le.ac.uk (external, University of Leicester)