A business leader has chosen International Women's Day to tell women how the decision to cut their penalty rates will, er, benefit them.
And people are not happy.
Photo: Andrew Meares
The Australian Chamber of Commerce tweeted a quote from its chief executive James Pearson:
Women stand to benefit from changes to penalty rates. Underemployment disproportionately affects women. #BeBoldForChange pic.twitter.com/N7Hb5GhIbR
— Australian Chamber (@AusChamber) March 8, 2017
To bring you up to speed, the Fair Work Commission has decided to lower Sunday and public holiday penalty rates for the hospitality, fast food, retail and pharmacy awards.
They have also cut the public holiday rate in the restaurant award, while they have left the door open to review the hair and beauty award if an employer takes it on.
With females making up a majority of hospitality, shop assistant and hair and beauty jobs, the changes have been regarded as a huge blow to working women.
The response on Twitter was swift, including a disparaging tweet from Opposition Leader Bill Shorten who asked "seriously?".
Here are a selection of them:
Seriously? Cutting women's pay is not good for women. https://t.co/Gk0gtLEhfM
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) March 8, 2017
@AusChamber Your logic is disingenuous at best & you celebrate cutting women's pay on #IWD2017? Back inside your cave.
— Sandi Logan (@SandiHLogan) March 8, 2017
There will be more women employed at small wages. Oh yay. What a win for women…. https://t.co/BkdyKsNqCd
— Dee Madigan (@deemadigan) March 8, 2017
@AusChamber if you're so bold for change, why aren't there more women on your board? pic.twitter.com/HOtpxXuTY0
— DukeLongley (@DukeLongley) March 8, 2017
The chamber then attempted to help its case tweeting a graph:
Underemployment disproportionately affects women. #BeBoldForChange pic.twitter.com/6o8SZQ6oFD
— Australian Chamber (@AusChamber) March 8, 2017
Here's one of the retorts:
@deemadigan @AusChamber They just keep setting themselves up and digging that hole more. 😂
— Brent Mitchell (@BrentMitch8) March 8, 2017