Conducted by two students of the Centre for Urban Research and Action, this is a study of the conditions and perceptions of outworkers in the clothing industry in Australia, particularly Melbourne. It looks at the structure of the clothing industry. Federal laws affecting outworking, and gives a detailed description and analysis of the conditions of work, attitudes and situations of outworkers, based on interviews. The conclusions are very clear: "Outworkers play an important role in the clothing industry. They are used to minimize production costs, to accommodate seasonal peaks in production and to permit increased production without incurring the costs associated with employing indoor workers, thus providing employers with a great deal of flexibility. . . By using outworkers and not declaring them as employees, employers' overhead costs such as purchase and maintenance of machinery, and cleaning, insurance, payroll tax, workers compensation, administrative paperwork, strict observance of awards, holidays etc. can be avoided. In short the workforce is flexible, cheap, vulnerable and unorganized". . . 'The majority of outworkers are women, mostly migrant women, who, as a result of cultural expectations, are faced with primary responsibility in the areas of child rearing and home making yet are forced to work by economic necessity." An excellent study, with positive recommendations at the end.

November 1979, £0.90.