Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations
Public Hearings in Canberra, November 22
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations will be holding its next public hearings for its
inquiry into issues specific to mature-age job seekers, in Canberra, starting
at 10:00 am on
Monday 22 November in Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House.
The program is attached.
The Chair of the Committee, Dr Brendan Nelson, said: "We expect
a broad range of views from witnesses on mature-age workers in the labour
market. We will hear from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the CPSU and the Australian
Education Union. Volunteering ACT will also attend.
"We now have more mature-age people in the population due to ageing
of the 'baby-boomers'. In the future, there will fewer younger people
working to support larger numbers of retired people, some of whom will
be drawing pensions. Yet mature-age participation in the labour market
has been decreasing, particularly that of men.
"To date we have heard evidence that many mature-age workers are being
targeted for retrenchment. Once they lose their jobs, older job seekers
have difficulty in getting new jobs. Recent surveys have shown that employers
are reluctant to employ them, preferring instead to hire people in their
thirties.
Dr Nelson added: "Some people over 55 are retiring early because they
can access superannuation. Others become discouraged in their job search
and drop out of the workforce. Forced retrenchment and early retirement
means that people are unable to save enough for their retirement, and
may have to fall back on the age pension in later life.
"Yet overseas and Australian research shows that unemployment is a health
hazard, affecting mortality, mental health and disease. It can also affect
the health of spouses and children. This increases the demand on the health
and social security systems.
"Instead of encouraging mature-age people with valuable experience to
contribute their skills to our workforce, many are being denied access
to the benefits arising from our economic reforms. The Committee aims
to explore the reasons for their difficulty and find practical solutions
to ensure that mature-age jobseekers are able to reap the rewards of economic
prosperity".
The Committee has received evidence from a number of witnesses at earlier
public hearings in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.
Public hearing transcripts and most submissions are at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/eewr/OWK/index.htm
.
Terms of reference
Inquire into the social, economic and industrial issues specific to workers
over 45 years of age seeking employment, or establishing a business, following
unemployment.
Program
Monday 22 November 1999
Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House
- 10:00 am CPSU ACT
- Ms Rae-Anne Medforth, National Organiser
- 10:30 am Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Dr Richard Madden, Director
- 11:15 am Australian Education Union (ACT Branch)
- Mr Clive Haggar, President
- 11:45 am Mr Kevin Connor
- 12:15 pm Ms Susan Doye
- 12:45 pm Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI)
- Mr Mark Paterson, Chief Executive
- 1:15 pm Volunteering ACT
- Ms Mary Porter, Executive Officer
- 1:40 pm CLOSE
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