Push to cut carer hours

UNIONS want workers to be able to reduce their hours on a temporary basis so they can cope with their caring responsibilities rather being forced into part-time or casual work.

A survey for the Australian Council of Trade Unions, which is launching a campaign Change the Rules for Working Women & Families, found 85 per cent of Australian workers have significant family caring or parenting responsibilities.

The survey found 40 per cent of workers have asked for reduced hours for caring but almost a quarter of these had been knocked back.