The OECD Forum Bridging the Divides which I attended 6-7 June in Paris was in some ways an extraordinary event broaching some of the most challenging issues of these times. With so many losers from global capitalism and the immense pressures this has placed on political systems around the world, the Forum was certainly timely. The Forum…
In the last week I have given 2 presentations at events for Melbourne Knowledge Week on behalf of Humanities21 which promotes the study of philosophy, history and literature. One of the events was for the Disruptive Business Network and the other for Humanities 21 itself at Melbourne Museum in a panel alongside author and academic Dr. Tim…
In this article, just published in the Economic and Labour Relations Review, I examine the barriers for mature age women trapped in precarious jobs of continuing on in employment until the later pension eligibility age in Australia (67) and other countries (67-68) that are now coming into effect. I also report on how the later pension…
The promise to restore manufacturing jobs, and the communities that depended on those jobs, was pivotal to Donald Trump’s presidential success. Turns out there is massive support for the revival of manufacturing in Australia too. But what does this mean and is it possible? My new article for Open Forum explores what might be involved.…
My article in Eureka Street looks at how old equal opportunity aspirations are being killed off by the loss of middle level jobs.
My article published by Open Forum explores whether it is going to be realistic for most people to keep working into their later years given the changes in the world of work in train. One of the ironies is that new technologies are not making working life easier – they are used to make it…
The following tables give a good overview of current gender inequality in the Australian labour market. These tables are embedded in the paper I gave at the ILO conference on the future of work last year. They show the high concentrations of women in just 6 of the 17 industry sectors, the high levels of the…
Update – 10 November – An edited version of the post is published on the Open Forum website. With my reading of Piketty’s Capital earlier this year and a related post on casual employment, it was very rewarding to see Professor Thomas Piketty in person at the Melbourne Town Hall on 28 October – and to listen to…
The Trepalium TV series* produced by Arte France creates a confronting view of a future society based on a huge divide between the 20% employed, the insiders, and the 80% unemployed, the outsiders, who live impoverished lives as outcasts on the other side of the wall in the Zone. The outsiders also include anyone with some kind of incapacity…
Over the last 2 weeks, I have twice been asked for commentary on workforce casualisation. The first time for the ABC’s Canberra morning program (20 June) and Tuesday night (5 July) between 10 and 11pm, for the ABC’s Nightlife program broadcast nationally. This extended session was undertaken with Melbourne University’s Professor Mark Wooden and included talkback from listeners. The podcast…
A version of the following post is published in the Right Now journal of human rights. The recently released report of the Inquiry into Employment Discrimination Against Older Australians and Australians with Disability helps to keep the issues of discrimination in the spotlight. This report does well in documenting the extent and experience of discrimination. It…
11 May update – a version of the following post incorporating the 3 May Budget changes is published on the Power to Persuade social policy website. The original 27 April post is here: In April, I attended the conference Solving Our Employment Crisis organised by the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union (AUWU). The conference consisted of speakers in leadership roles from various organisations…
