Work for the Dole: Is it safe?

Work for the dole is legal slavery. And as slaves, we have few   rights.

Employed and paid workers are protected by agreements and  awards. Award conditions vary, but  generally they restrict the demands bosses make   on employees as well as regulate hours worked, rest breaks to be taken, sick and other available leave, appropriate pay rates and allowances for unusual working conditions.

Work for the dole providers do not have similar restrictions.   Basically, if we do not do what we are told, when we are told, we   can be dobbed into CentreLink and breached. Of course, the   CentreLink staff person may side with us in extreme cases. But even then   the onus on us to establish our innocence or that the demands made   by the provider were oppressive.    

One of the few rights we have is in relation to safety. Of course   our provider must adhere to the Occupational Health and Safety Act   that guarantees our safety. Even here we are restricted. The Act   relates to employers. Unemployed Work for Dole workers are not eligible for Workers Comp.   Under these conditions it is more difficult for us to access WorkCover   inspectors. It also means that we are not entitled to the same   compensation if we are injured. We have to make do with the assurance that work for the dole   providers will be responsible for our safety.   

On every conceivable work for the dole project there are at least   some safety issues.

 Does the community centre you are working is   have adequate lighting or adequate ventilation? Are there the   appropriate fire extinguishers for water and electrical fires? Are   there fire exits are they kept clear and are they adequately   notice Does your community centre have adequate health and   safety policy with procedure should an accident occur? Is there an   adequate and access able first aid kit?  These are important   questions for you if you volunteer.

However more and more work for the dole projects are not soft work   assisting the community. They are hard labour schemes such as   concreting, painting; planting trees light construction, nurses and   teaching aid work. Here there are plenty of potential causes of   injury. Workers who usually perform these jobs go thru rigorous training over long periods of time.

Does you work for the dole provider do enough to protect you   from injury? Have you been adequately instructed in health and   Safety? Was this instruction in a language that you could   understand? The provider has a responsibility to provide translators   if necessary.     Have you been given adequate safety protection for your job? Are   you provided with safety boots in circumstances where it is possible   that your feet could be injured? Are you issued with adequate gloves?   If you are dealing with brambles your gloves should be long enough   to protect your forearms and thick enough to stop you being lacerated.   You should be issued with long sleeved shirts if needed.     

Work for the dole is a way government community centres and   institutions have of cutting the cost of labour to virtually zero.   Therefore we are confident that they will aspire to cut   down the cost of safety also. Don't let them get away with it!

If you discover that the safety is dodgy at your work for the dole project   -- dob your provider in! You can do this by contacting the   Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. You can also   contact WorkCover, despite the fact that WorkCover does not apply to us. But your   supervisor, a paid worker, could be endangered. An inspector might   therefore respond.

Most importantly, contact StandUp! We would like to know if Work for the dole providers are endangering health. The more we know, the more we can expose! Work for the dole is legal slavery that must be fought.

Join StandUp! and campaign against it.