Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Dock Work Convention, 1973 (No. 137) - Australia (Ratification: 1974)

The Committee notes the Government’s report and the information sent in reply to its previous direct request on the effect given to Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention. The Committee notes that, according to the information supplied by the Government, most stevedoring employees are ongoing employees, but that the major stevedores also employ casual employees and guaranteed wage employees. Whilst the guaranteed wage employees are specific to the stevedoring sector and are provided with minimum regular payments conditional upon making themselves available for a certain number of allocated shifts, neither they nor the casual employees have guarantees of minimum periods of employment or minimum income. The Committee asks the Government to include with its next report the text of awards laying down recruitment and working conditions for these two categories of stevedores.

Part V of the report form. The Committee asks the Government in its next report to provide information on the practical application of the Convention. It would appreciate in particular any available information on the numbers of each of the abovementioned categories (ongoing employees, casual employees and guaranteed wage employees), on changes in these numbers and on any measures taken to prevent or minimize detrimental effects of any changes. Please also continue to provide information on the activities of the Maritime Industry Finance Company Ltd. (MIFCo).