Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act

(Formerly the Affirmative Action Act)

The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 requires higher education institutions and employers of more than 100 employees, to remove barriers that have in the past prevented women from having equal involvement.

The Act also aims to:

• promote employment of women on merit
• eliminate discrimination against, and promote equal opportunity for, women in employment
• encourage consultation between employers and employees on equal opportunity for women.

It does not mean that a certain number of women must be employed or that women must be given jobs over more skilled or better qualified men.

It does mean that unfair barriers should be removed. These include:

• not telling women when jobs are available
• denying women the training needed to compete for jobs
• assuming women would not want, or be able to do, a particular job.

Employers should report in writing on their progress each year to:

Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency
Level 1, 65 Berry Street
North Sydney NSW 2059
Phone: 02 9957 4333

Employers who do not report, or submit unsatisfactory reports, can be named in Federal Parliament, and can miss out on government contracts.