Insecure Work a Major Cause of COVID Spread - Daniel Andrews
From ABC News:
[Daniel Andrews] flagged insecure jobs, where people did not have sick leave and needed to work their shifts to get paid, as an issue contributing to why some people were continuing to work while waiting for test results or while they had symptoms.
The Victorian Government has offered a one-off “Hardship Payment” of $1500 for people who test positive or are a close contact of a COVID-positive person, and would have no income if they self-isolate. Those who are forced to self-isolate because they are ill, but end up with a negative test result, are ineligible. Many are suffering from the loss of income.
The increasing casualisation of the workforce leaves many people vulnerable, forcing them to continue working in times of sickness or other crisis. We need a Universal social dividend to provide continuous financial support to everyone in times like these.
Australia’s Dirty Secret by John Hewson
John Hewson, former leader of the Liberal Party, writes in the Sydney Morning Herald:
How is it consistent that our government takes a strong position against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, but defends its spying activities to the detriment of Timor-Leste? How is this consistent with our defence of the global “rules-based system”?
The effect of the Witness K and Collaery cases is to send a chill through anyone who might contemplate exposing the immoral and illegal actions of their government.
Universal Basic Income - Support from Uni of Melbourne
In University of Melbourne’s Pursuit magazine, Dr Anne Décobert, Lecturer In Development Studies, says “A Universal Basic Income would simplify welfare systems, reducing costly overheads and requirements like means testing. And as well as boosting people’s confidence and ability to survive, Basic Income payments could have positive knock-on effects by stimulating consumption.”
She notes that “In Give a Man a Fish, Professor James Ferguson argues that we must move away from the idea of human survival being dependent on waged labour, and towards the idea of a “rightful share” – with citizens having a right to an income based on a share in ownership of national wealth.“
See our #JUsTNow campaign for Human Union’s take on Post-COVID economic recovery with Jobs creation + Universal social dividend + Tax reform.
Rethinking Work
In his article Instead of “Snap Back”, Let’s Rethink Work, Tim Hollo reflects on the economic impact of the pandemic, and asks whether there are better models for our working lives. Models that provide our society with more resilience and give people greater meaning and fulfilment in their lives.
South Korea Considers UBI
Dongwoo Kim writing in The Diplomat reports that the COVID-19 pandemic has added considerable momentum to the Basic Income movement in South Korea. Universal emergency basic income was rolled out in May, and there is now a push from both the left and right wings of politics to make it permanent.