Policies which integrate work and family life to increase productivity and efficiency at work will be put in place by the Lawrence Government.
Productivity and Labour Relations Minister Yvonne Henderson said today that it was important for employers to establish policies that were family friendly.
"The Government will assist them to do this under 'The Way Ahead', our package of industrial relations policies designed to improve the way we work to meet the challenges of greater efficiency and productivity through consultation and co-operation," the Minister said.
"We will create 20 more child care centres for workers with family responsibilities in the next five years. Seven of these new centres will specifically target major work centres throughout the State.
"We will allocate $500,000 to private sector employers to pilot innovative practices and procedures to respond to the needs of workers with family responsibilities.
"A further $1 million will be provided to fund a comprehensive information service for emergency elder care and child care. Private sector employers will be given help to establish employer-sponsored child care services."
Mrs Henderson said the status of women in the workforce would be protected, and amendments would be introduced in enterprise bargaining legislation to ensure that workplace bargaining did not disadvantage women workers.
"The Government will investigate work-related injury among women, and investigate the feasibility of establishing a program for reskilling workers - mainly women - who have taken parenting leave," she said.
"We aim to achieve a further 10 per cent reduction in workplace injuries among men and women in the next four years, following cuts of nearly 15 per cent in these injuries since 1989," the Minister said.
"An advisory and information service on workplace health and safety will be established for use by employers, employees and unions.
"And comprehensive new standards on hazardous substances will be introduced.
"We will continue to lobby the Federal Government to reduce income tax zone rebates and fringe benefits tax."
