More IR Advice: Get A Sex Change

Following yesterday's widely reported revelations about the astronomical cost of childcare comes today's warnings from RMIT Research Fellow Robyn May that the planned industrial relations changes will impact particularly harshly on women. Women are more likely to be in casual employment and, regardless of provisions for maternity leave, are more likely to leave employment due to family commitments.

And yet, a year after Treasurer Peter Costello urged all us ladies to pop off and have `one for the husband, one for the wife and one for the country', the rhetoric just doesn't match the commitment. And, as May says, "Unless you happen to be a highly skilled employee, the bargaining power is all with the employer,". This doesn't only go for women - this goes for men who for whatever reason can't articulate themselves well, and particularly, people whose first language is not English; and within this category, people whose cultures oppose the idea of approaching their boss and personally demanding better conditions rather than acquiescing to an authority figure.

I'm waiting, Kev, I'm waiting ...