What Has Been The Impact Of Neo-liberalism On Employment Relations In

What Has Been The Impact Of Neo-liberalism On Employment Relations In What Has Been The Impact Of Neo-liberalism On Employment Relations In Australia Since 1990s â€" Essay Example > What Has Been the Impact of Neo-Liberalism on Employment Relations in Australia Since 1990s? Neo-liberalism has been defined as a set of economic policies whereby the control of economic factors has moved from the public sector and is now in the private sector. It is described as an economics and social studies approach that is based on the neoclassical theories of economics. Neo-liberalism can be explained as an approach to economics that emphasizes on relatively open markets, liberalized trade activities and the efficiency of the private sector enterprises (Plant 2009). Neo-liberalism seeks to promote how the private sector determines the economic and political priorities of a country. The principles proposed by neo-liberalism seek to promote a free market (laissez-faire) environment so as to encourage economic development. Neo-liberalism is concerned with pushing the government to make certain changes to the economic environment so as to promote fairness and ensure steady econo mic growth. Some of these changes include: limiting protectionism so as to open up markets to trade, support deregulation, limiting subsidies, broadening tax base by reforming tax laws, privatizing state-run corporations, reducing deficit spending, allowing private property and removing fixed exchange rates (Bell 2006). Employment relations can be explained as the body of work or practice that is concerned with maintaining useful relationships between the employer and the employers. Employment relations is concerned with promoting meaningful employee-employer relationships that are pertinent to productivity, morale and motivation. In essence, employment relations seeks to prevent and resolve problems that involve individuals at work and which can arise out of work situations or affect work situations. It resolves conflicts. Some of the main actors in employment relations include employees, employers, trade unions and the government (Bray 2009). Australia has experienced changes pol itically, economically and socially over the years. Politically, before the 1788, the shape of Australia has not always been what it is today. It was part of a great land known as Gondwanaland. It slowly drifted away and traces of civilization began to be seen with the Aborigines. Australian Aborigine culture slowly developed. Politics in Australia began when the British came to colonize the country from 1788-1900. Between 1901 and 2000, Australia experienced the post federation period. The political framework has since changed. Politics within Australia is today guided by a framework of parliamentary democracy. The electoral procedures have also changed to suit a two party system. This means that Australia is today governed as a constitutional monarchy and as a federation. Parliamentarians in Australia are elected into parliament by the citizens. Australia has six states and two major territories which hold elections after every four years. There are both major and minor politica l parties in Australia. Most recent political changes have seen women take up high political positions such as the current Prime Minister, Julia Gillard (Bell 2007). Socially, life in Australia has also experienced a lot of changes in the remote areas, the city, the suburbs and the regional towns. Social change has been brought by the government, social expectations, globalization and businesses. Statistics presented by the 2001 census report of Australia show that there have been many social and family life changes over the past few decades. There are very few people getting into formal marriages and the number of people divorcing has sky rocketed. Childlessness has greatly increased and more people are living alone than ever before. People are increasingly delaying marriage while others are not marrying at all. Divorce rates have hit a historical high. The average household capacity in Australia has shrunk drastically. Households are dominated by single parents, people living al one and childless couples. The proportion of women who have never had children has also increased to the highest levels since the 1930s. Critics have blamed moral decay and ‘selfishness’ for the declining birth rates and marriages and the increasing divorce rates (Plant 2009).