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- 26 October 2004
Clothing Outworkers
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Page: 11938
The Hon. IAN WEST [10.01 p.m.]: Tonight I would like to address a myth that keeps being dredged up by the would-be economists: productivity. It is a favourite of Conservatives when talking about reasons why trade unions should be attacked in the name of unfettered employer prerogative. The reality is that productivity is a simplistic and flawed measure. When applied to the work force, or labour, productivity simply means the output per unit of labour. However, given the continual and ongoing changes in the nature of work through such things as technology and work hours through flexible or unchecked work arrangements, even more flawed is the attempt to measure national or global productivity. As a measure it becomes meaningless; in some cases, inhuman. Furthermore, work pressures expect employees to perform more work per hour, which has little effect on productivity measures.
One area that makes a joke of productivity is clothing trade outworkers. They are probably the most productive workers in Australia; they are also probably the most exploited. Outworkers are clearly not paid a fair return for their productivity outputs. The following case studies give some indication. The Nguyen family has four children aged three to 18 years of age, who all help with the production of clothes at home. They average 35 hours a week of work between them, assisting their parents who average 98 hours a week each. The family estimates its total weekly income to be between $500 and $700 per week. The Nguyens feel they cannot say anything about their conditions as they have no documentation and are told they will get into trouble if they tell anyone.
A second case is the case of May, a recent migrant and Australian citizen, who works in a sweatshop from 6.30 a.m. until 11.00 p.m. six or seven days a week. She is paid at $7 per hour—not a piecework rate—from which she has to pay her own tax. She does not get any leave or overtime. May's story is only too familiar to the estimated 100,000 clothing outworkers in New South Wales. The award rate is $13.40 per hour, but most are paid as low as $2 per hour, the average being $5 per hour, from which they have to pay tax, pay for their sewing equipment and the costs of picking up and delivering orders, in addition to the health costs associated with prolonged working conditions, repetitive strain injury, failing eyesight and respiratory conditions. An estimated 73 per cent of outworkers have one or more chronic injuries.
This disgraceful situation continues despite some spirited efforts over the years from trade unions, activist bodies, governments and responsible employers in the industry. In fact, the situation is set to get worse as the national tariff in the clothing industry is set to drop from 25 per cent to 17.5 per cent in January 2005. That means wages and conditions will be forced down in an attempt to compete with even cheaper imports, as has been the case since tariff cuts first started to kill off the clothing manufacturing industry in Australia. This is an industry based largely on illegal exploitation of the most powerless, and effective legislative coverage has been difficult to achieve. Codes of practice for the industry are helpful but implementing and policing them is a real challenge.
In New South Wales migrant mothers work more than 15 hours a day seven days a week as clothing outworkers to feed and clothe their children—many of whom help with the work in what is, effectively, child labour—all for slave wages. Thanks to Barry Tubner and Igor Nossar of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union—two champions of this issue for many years—the plight of outworkers has been publicised. They have worked well over the years with Fairwear, Asian Women at Work, APHEDA, the New South Wales Labor Council, the Government Initiative and Behind the Label, amongst many others.
It is pleasing to see that the Hon. Reba Meagher, MP, Minister Assisting the Minister for Commerce, has announced the consideration period for the mandatory code of practice outlined in the New South Wales Industrial Relations (Ethical Clothing Trades) Act. This will be known as the Ethical Clothing Trades Extended Responsibility Scheme. The scheme will ensure that ethical clothing retailers must not be undercut and penalised for operating legally. It will also help outworkers to achieve their lawful entitlements under the relevant industrial awards. [Time expired.]
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