This paper reviews the evidence regarding wages growth in Australia since the 2008 financial crisis and discusses what it means for policy. This includes the pros and cons of new policy measures, such as a return to multi-employer bargaining and a boost to planned permanent...

A 'right to disconnect' could take several forms, and be implemented via different avenues in Australia. Based on international examples and the attitudes of workers in Australia, this report finds that implementing the right within the national employment standards would be the most effective.

This report outlines key challenges in organising working time in Australia’s current labour market. These include insecure, non-standard working arrangements; limited ability for workers to achieve optimal working hours; and the scale and cost of unpaid overtime.

This paper quantifies the dramatic risks faced by workers whose employers unilaterally terminate enterprise agreements during the course of renegotiations.

The weakness of wage growth in Australia over the past decade has been extreme by both historic and international standards. The authors of this report argue that the reforms proposed in the 'Secure Jobs, Better Wages' Bill represent important, but incremental steps in restoring a...

With a novel methodology searching news events from world’s largest news agencies via the online GDELT project, this report documents protest of key workers against their working conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic in 90 countries.

This study provides empirical evidence from different regions of the world to identify avenues for platform economy workers to access freedom of association and collective bargaining.

The Business Council of Australia has prepared this discussion paper ahead of the upcoming Jobs and Skills Summit.

Full and secure employment should be the top macroeconomic goal of the Albanese Government, according to the ACTU in this paper released ahead of the Jobs Summit in early September.

The authors of this report argue that Australia needs an updated industry policy, so that the nation can become an industrial success story as the world moves to net-zero carbon emissions.

This report examines the role of collective bargaining in mitigating the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on employment and earnings, helping to cushion inequality, while reinforcing the resilience of enterprises and labour markets. The report considers the contribution of collective bargaining to a human-centred recovery.

This report begins by describing trends in wage growth in Australia over the last 14 years. It then identifies the policy positions of the federal government since assuming office in 2013 that have contributed to slow wage growth.

A summary of policy papers Ai Group has released in the lead-up to the 2022 federal election. They reflect the policy priorities of their members and support Ai Group’s ambition for thriving industries and a prosperous community.

Over the last decade, the rise and accelerating growth of 'on-demand' work or the 'gig economy', driven by rapid technological development and other factors, has challenged traditional workforce and economic arrangements, both internationally and in Australia. This first report provides a comprehensive analysis of the...

This policy statement outlines The Greens' policy position on better rights for working people and improving Australia's industrial relations system.

This report presents information on the financial and operational performance of the monitored container stevedores, as well as observations regarding key developments within the sector relating to COVID-19 and prior supply chain transformation, competition and port regulation.

The United Kingdom’s industrial policy since the 1970s has been characterised by frequent policy reversals and announcements, driven by political cycles. This paper explores the impacts of these deficiencies of the industrial policy-making landscape in the UK and contrasts them with the experiences of other...

The inequalities across the UK is starting to play out in our politics. People do not believe that their voices are being heard and feel disempowered. This report outlines policy options to aid in creating an economy that delivers both prosperity and justice for all...

There are a range of management strategies available to police agencies to prevent serious misconduct. This study uses partial dependence plots to explore management strategies which have been identified as either increasing or decreasing risk of serious police misconduct.

From July 2021, it becomes a crime for an employer in Victoria to dishonestly withhold wages or other employee entitlements. This kit provides a suite of resources in a variety of formats to communicate these new laws.

Insecure work is a reality for too many Australian workers. This report explores how the implementation of a portable entitlements scheme could improve the livelihoods of this growing cohort of Australian workers.

This report provides a detailed analysis of how Australian employers have experienced and adapted to COVID-19. Between May to October 2020, the research team interviewed 32 leaders, managers and officers at 28 organisations across Australia. Many surveys on COVID-19 in 2020 focused on worker preferences...

The COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated just how damaging job insecurity is, not only to individual workers and their families, but to society as a whole. This briefing paper lays out the Bill’s provisions and Per Capita's arguments against them.

This report illustrates how the Morrison Government's omnibus industrial relations bill will lead to a significant increase in employer-designed enterprise agreements (EA) that reduce workers' pay and conditions, rather than improve them—signalling a return to the WorkChoices pattern of EA-making and putting further downward pressure...

Industrial relations regulation in Australia is an historical anomaly. It is highly prescriptive and complex, with substantial third party involvement. The economic shocks of COVID-19, and the associated government responses, have rendered aspects of our industrial relations regulations unworkable. This paper proposes some solutions.