Return to work Mums seeking casual, part-time or temporary 3 month, 6 month or 12 month Government (and some business) work - forget it!

One will not get to first base being granted an interview by any Agency who advertises "Protected, Highly Protected, Secret or VEI or VII required".

These requirements are advertised for most positions along with a preference that applicants hold a business or administration certificate, Year 12 Certificate, a Diploma, a Degree and the list continues.

Mums returning to work after having stayed at home with their children a few years or ten years, can expect, for the most part, a barrier and red tape placed in front of them, along with the fact that they will often be offered the lowest of wages returning to work while taking up the slack of many long term slackers, who suddenly disappear in throngs for sick leave, after a casual or part-timer appears, as occurred with another friend last week. Several enjoyed their paid sick leave, after her first two days employed, while she worked in three of their positions, while implementing a new system.

Welcome back "S" to the working world and all of its joys!

"that supposedly force unskilled people from disadvantaged backgrounds "
- stereotypes are apparently Ok to trot out when it suit's.

The author makes a good point about employers being risk adverse but that get's back to the difficulties of fnding a good balance between protecting people and over regulation.

Law's that make it more difficult to sack someone who is not working out in a business will make employers less likely to give them a chance in the first place.

Law's which make it more difficult for employers and employee's to negotiate their own terms and conditions will make it more difficult for employee's to find a job with the flexibility they might need as a single parent.

Rather than trying to force all employers to be good employers a greater focus on making it easier for employers to switch jobs and to negotiate their own conditions could well open up more opportunities.

R0bert