Precarious Part-Time Work in Australia and in Transnational Labour Regulation: The Gendered Limits of SER-Centrism

ABSTRACT

This article examines approaches guiding transnational regulations on part-time work in relation to the Australian case, where such work is especially common. Analysing the terms of an ILO convention and an EU directive on part-time work, it explores the ‘SER-centric’ approach guiding these regulations. This approach pivots on the norm of the standard employment relationship (SER) or the full-time permanent job complete with a social wage. It pursues labour protections designed to stretch the employment norm. Yet to the extent that it offers potential to alleviate precariousness, this approach is most likely to help permanent part-time workers and least likely to improve the situations of casual part-time workers. The Australian case highlights the limits of this approach. In this context, rates of part-time work are not only amongst the highest in the OECD, a sizeable segment of part-time work is also casual, and many women work in this category. SER-centric approaches epitomised in transnational labour regulations, and evident in some strategies for re-regulation at the national level, threaten to heighten gendered labour-market insecurities.