Collaboration to make work . . . work

What was so interesting about the Jobs Summit in Canberra last month was how many alliances were formed, often between unexpected partners.

One that caught my eye was between The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), a network of about 4,000 advocacy organisations - charities, employers and individuals involved with community services and the civil society sector.? Many of those organisations represent voices of people with disabilities.??

Their agreement is fascinating and worth reading.?What jumped out for me was how many of the agreement’s bullet points resonate with issues that concern me about employment in the disability sector. People with disabilities and their representatives want workers treated well.??

The care economy, the partners write, employs about two million workers – mostly women – yet “it faces tremendous challenges in recruiting and retaining staff and providing quality care – challenges that could worsen”.?

As for why? The ACTU and ACOSS run through a range of reasons but right at the top of the list is improving the workplace relations system by, among other things, making sure the Award system acts as a “genuine, relevant safety net” and making sure the ‘gig economy’ is “better regulated”.

Absolutely. Too many people are falling through the cracks of the Award system – not getting the wages and entitlements they deserve. As for the lack of regulation of gig economy independent contractors?? Well, it’s a huge issue in the care economy, especially the disability sector where illegal and unethical employment practices are growing rapidly, often facilitated by online platforms.? Last week, I took part in features on the ABC online and on television, looking at exactly how regulation of the gig economy could be changed for the better. Ensuring all workers have access to minimum rights and entitlements, as outlined in relevant industry Awards, must be a priority, regardless of the tech that supports how individual jobs are advertised, found or allocated.?

For too long unions, advocacy groups and employers have ploughed their own furrows or – worse – fought each other. Agreements like the one between the ACTU and ACOSS show another way is possible.? More of that please. It’s really encouraging.???