Australian workers being short-changed: ACTU survey

The poll of 42,000 employees, billed as the largest ever conducted with Australian workers, has found many are under increasing pressure at work.

ACTU President Ged Kearney, who will officially present the findings at the National Press Club on Wednesday, says productivity is coming at the expense of workers' wellbeing.

"We have in fact what we call a productivity squeeze which means businesses are achieving productivity (gains) through a great deal of pressure on workers," Kearney told ABC Radio.

What's more worrying is that there is a large amount of unpaid work being done, she said.

"We are being told by our members that they are working harder than ever, longer than ever and not getting paid for that extra work."

Kearney said that even under current workplace laws workers were being short-changed.

For example, the survey found 50 per cent of employees pay for workplace expenses and are not compensated for it.

"While the legislation might provide for these things, employers for whatever reason are not actually abiding by that," Kearney said.

"A lot of our respondents, particularly in casual or insecure work, are saying that they are feeling forced to comply with this for fear of not getting shifts or for fear of not getting any extra work when they need it."

The ACTU president said workers should not have more rights taken away from them.

"What we're seeing from employers is that they are trying to say that industrial relations laws are the reasons for productivity woes in this country and that just isn't true.

"This survey shows that workers are working harder than ever and that in some ways they're getting exploited even though the legislation is there to protect them."