New Zealand Context - Part one: Introduction
Research background
The National Advisory Council on the Employment of Improving the Quality of Work for Women in Homecare, Residential and Cleaning SectorWomen (NACEW) has identified government contracting as one area where there may be potential for government as funder to influence improvements in the quality of work for women currently in precarious working situations or low paid work. The research is asked to describe the process of government contracting and whether precarious work or pay and employment equity outcomes for the provider's employees are considered when contracts are awarded.
There is a wealth of literature on non-standard and precarious work. This project adopts the definition of precarious employment established by previous Department of Labour (DOL) research.[4] It is defined as employment generally at the "lower end" of the non-standard work continuum[5]. The employment is, "...low quality and ...encompasses a range of factors that put workers at risk of injury, illness and/or poverty (from low wages, low job security, limited control over workplace conditions, little protection for health and safety risks in the workplace and less opportunity for training and career progression)."[6]
There is general consensus that these conditions exist in the homecare, residential and cleaning sectors.[7] The purpose of this project is not to explore the existence of these conditions, but rather to examine any linkage between the conditions and the government's contracting/funding processes. [8]
Research methodology
- Brief examination of literature provided by DOL on the impact of purchasing frameworks on employment outcomes;[9]
- Examination of government procurement policy; and
- Interviews with key
stakeholders[10]:
- policy organisations
- purchasing agencies
- national provider organisation
- Service and Food Workers Union.
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[4] ‘Precarious’ Non-Standard Employment – A Review of the Literature, Deborah Tucker, Labour Market Policy Group, Department of Labour, Wellington, New Zealand, December 2002
[5] The “higher end” being characterised by self-employed and part time workers who are more likely to have a reasonable income, job security and workplace autonomy and the “lower end” by unpredictable, irregular or insufficient hours.
[6] Tucker, op cit p.5
[7] Appendix 1 provides information about cleaners and disability support workers in the labour market and wages and conditions in the disability support sector
[8] The Department of Labour has undertaken research on pay and employment equity. The first phase of the research covered the public service, public health and education sectors and the second will focus on how to influence pay and employment equity outcomes in the wider state sector and in government contracting.
[9] This material is integrated throughout the report.
[10] 19 interviews were held with 26 people: 11 interviews with funders; 2 with provider umbrella organisations; 1 union; 4 policy officials; 1 other
