Bargaining for welfare: Gender consequences of Australia's dual welfare model
Abstract
"The tradition in Australia of delivering welfare benefits through the industrial
relations system rather than through social insurance schemes has important
implications for coverage and adequacy of important forms of income protection and
maintenance. Using data from a large-scale survey, this paper examines access to two
forms of social benefit: paid maternity/paternity leave and retirement income in the
form of occupational superannuation. Patterns of coverage indicate that those with
limited bargaining power in the labour market are more likely to miss out on these
benefits. These results indicate a necessity for maintaining the coverage and level of
benefits available through publicly provided schemes such as the Aged Pension. The
findings also support the current push for a nationally legislated, government funded,
paid maternity leave scheme."