Opposition calls for protection of female workers post-COVID

Women in the workforce have been hit harder than men by the coronavirus crisis and need more job opportunities and protection as we recover, the State Opposition say. But the government have hit back.

THE State Opposition wants to see more jobs and better employment protection for women as Tasmania starts to recover from the coronavirus downturn.

“Women have been hit harder by COVID-19 because they often have that part-time or casual job, that job in the retail or hospitality sector,” Opposition spokeswoman for women Michelle O’Byrne said.

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Australian Bureau of Statistics data released last week showed female employee jobs in Tasmania fell 9.7 per cent between March 14 and April 18, compared with a 6.1 per cent drop in jobs for male employees.

Opposition spokeswoman for women Michelle O'Byrne. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms O’Byrne said many women did not qualify for support and the government’s recovery plan was heavily focused on the male-dominated construction sector.

As policy makers look to create more jobs, Ms O’Byrne said it was important to build better protections for women into workplace rules.

“Governments can work in the industrial relations framework and demand that we stop leaving women in such insecure work, because those are the things that have meant that they’ve not been eligible for the government supports,” Ms O’Byrne said.

State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson. Picture: AAP Image/Rob Blakers

State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson was quick to criticise what he called Ms O’Byrne’s “very narrow socialist view of how the economy works”.

“The best way to create jobs is to grow the overall economy by ensuring businesses have the confidence to invest and employ more people,” Mr Ferguson said.

“Our strong focus on Tasmania’s visitor economy has resulted in massive job growth throughout the state, including in industries such as hospitality and retail.”