(1) EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO WORK, TO FREE CHOICE OF EMPLOYMENT, TO JUST AND FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS OF WORK AND TO PROTECTION AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT.
undermined by 'Workchoices', the criminalisation of collective bargaining and the forcing of employees onto Individual Agreements [AWAs]. Workers who don't conform to this model may well find themselves on the unemployment scrap-heap pretty fast, particularly if they are in a sector with plenty of unskilled cheap labor.
Everyone of employeable age has the right to work, giving each person the economic social and cultural dignity of a worthwhile human being. With the hard fought for 8 hour day, Australia had reasonable working conditions.
These rights have been eroded to such an extent by: 1. welfare to work 2. lack of skills training 3. HECS fees, TAFE fees 4. few apprenticeships 5. mass-importation of cheaper goods 5. I.R. laws 6. threats to unions 7. casualisation
In a country so rich in every way, why are so many people homeless, working for less than a few hours a week, charities over-stretched, hundreds of meals served daily to the hungry?
For the sake of humanity worldwide, I say dispose of world leaders and lets get back to a more caring and compassionate society because the present system is not working. We are all our brothers keeper so lets be positive and work for the common good. (Margaret McDonald)
(2) EVERYONE, WITHOUT ANY DISCRIMINATION, HAS THE RIGHT TO EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.
undermined by 'Workchoices'.
(3) EVERYONE WHO WORKS HAS THE RIGHT TO JUST AND FAVOURABLE REMUNERATION ENSURING FOR HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY AN EXISTENCE WORTHY OF HUMAN DIGNITY, AND SUPPLEMENTED, IF NECESSARY, BY OTHER MEANS OF SOCIAL PROTECTION.
a jobless person with a disability will be on lower payments and face a tax rate which means they lose 60 cents in every dollar they earn.
(4) EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO FORM AND TO JOIN TRADE UNIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF HIS INTERESTS.
although technically this is upheld as a 'right', independent trade unions who don't conform to the neo-corporatist model will find themselves in for a rude shock.
# ARTICLE 24. [fail]
EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO REST AND LEISURE, INCLUDING REASONABLE LIMITATION OF WORKING HOURS AND PERIODIC HOLIDAYS WITH PAY.
undermined by 'workchoices' in alliance with employer-groups.
there are still many workers (e.g. taxi-drivers) who work long hours in dangerous conditions, get no holiday pay or sick-leave. the number of people doing part-time boring casualised work has increased.
# ARTICLE 25. [fail]
(1) EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO A STANDARD OF LIVING ADEQUATE FOR THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF HIMSELF AND OF HIS FAMILY, INCLUDING FOOD, CLOTHING, HOUSING AND MEDICAL CARE AND NECESSARY SOCIAL SERVICES, AND THE RIGHT TO SECURITY IN THE EVENT OF UNEMPLOYMENT, SICKNESS, DISABILITY, WIDOWHOOD, OLD AGE OR OTHER LACK OF LIVELIHOOD IN CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND HIS CONTROL.
rights no longer guaranteed by the State, which raises the question; "why bother having a state at all?" If you are sick or disabled you may be forced into 'welfare to work' whether you can handle it or not. The provision of most of these 'rights' have now been 'outsourced' to charities, mostly churches. Recently though the churches have rebelled against the idea of enforcing draconian government policies (e.g. 'breaching') which might leave the government in a dilemma.
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations CEO Maryanne Diamond said:
�Not only will people get less money each week, they'll also keep less if they work, and will be forced to run down their assets. No-one wants to work for $2.27 an hour, but it�s even worse for people with disability who have higher costs in the workforce because of their disability.�
Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations Acting Executive Officer Elena Rosenman said:
"Left with no income and no support for eight weeks, the Welfare to Work reforms will leave up to 14 000 Australians at imminent risk of homelessness. Already, each day 100,000 Australians are homeless. Each night, only 15 000 of these people find a bed in the homeless service system. Homeless assistance services turnaway 1 in every 2 people requesting support every day - the system simply cannot cope with any additional demand. These 14 000 Australians with no income and no support will have nowhere to go but the streets of our cities and towns."
Catholic Social Services Australia Executive Director Frank Quinlan said:
"A society can be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable and needy people. The good of individuals cannot be sacrificed, like a canary in a mine, in the pursuit of economic goals, no matter how noble. Participation in the workforce enhances people's dignity, and Catholic Social Services has long advocated for every person's right to secure, meaningful employment. But many people will need significant support in order to attain this goal. And we have to face the reality that some people may never reach this goal.�
National Council of Single Mothers and their Children Convenor Dr Elspeth McInnes said:
�Single parents face increased poverty, less time to care for their children and new demands to work for as little as one dollar per hour. Parents lose at least $30 per week because Newstart Allowance isa lower payment, and will be forced to take 15-25 hours of work if their earnings make them $25 per week better off. More single parents will be trapped in long-term poverty, being shunted between income support and low-paid insecure jobs and their children will have less parental care.�
National Welfare Rights Network President Michael Raper said:
�At the heart of the package is a very harsh and unnecessary eight week no payment penalty that the Government expects to impose on 18,000 people in the first year, many of whom will be parents and people with disabilities. We strongly oppose this penalty and urge the Government to monitor it very closely with an open mind towards a system that encourages compliance and re-engagement, rather than harsh punishment for past errors.�
The Salvation Army:
"We should not punish people but rather try even harder to find ways to help them overcome their personal crisis."
UnitingCare Australia Associate Director Colleen Geyer said:
�What�s missing and what has always been missing from this package is the recognition that people want to work. Rather than cutting payments to jobless Australians, we need more targeted assistance to help people get ready to work and then supports to assist them to move into work and stay there.�
(2) MOTHERHOOD AND CHILDHOOD ARE ENTITLED TO SPECIAL CARE AND ASSISTANCE. ALL CHILDREN, WHETHER BORN IN OR OUT OF WEDLOCK, SHALL ENJOY THE SAME SOCIAL PROTECTION.