How are low protection workers regulated? A pilot study in Australia and Indonesia


Centre Members: Sean Cooney, John Howe, Joo-Cheong Tham
Associates: Martina Boese, Peter Gahan, Petra Mahy, Richard Mitchell

This project is a preliminary investigation of the norms and rules that govern workers who lie outside the scope of labour standards laws (in either a legal or practical sense). Such workers generally receive lower levels of protection in respect of their remuneration, working time and leave entitlements than those covered by labour laws. They also have limited or no access to dispute resolution and enforcement processes that assist those covered by formal work law. There are many low protection workers in developed countries such as Australia and in developing countries, like Indonesia, low protection workers vastly outnumber those covered by labour laws.