Work Arrangements in Container Stevedoring

About this Study

The Commonwealth Treasurer has asked the Industry Commission to undertake a research project on work arrangements in the stevedoring industry. The objective of this study is to highlight the benefits and costs of selected stevedoring work arrangements (both worker and management). These will include formal and informal arrangements which either enhance or restrict workplace performance. The study will examine the incidence of these benefits and costs on key players, such as stevedoring firms, employees, users of stevedoring services, and the wider community.

This study is complemented by another Commission project on International Benchmarking of the Australian Waterfront, which will benchmark port and stevedore performance, and government involvement across container trades, cruise shipping and break bulk trades.

Does the study affect you?

This study welcomes the input of all those affected by work arrangements in the stevedoring industry. It is likely to be of particular interest to:

• stevedoring companies;
• stevedore employees and unions;
• shipping lines;
• other operators involved in waterfront activities (for example, road and rail freight operators, freight forwarders, port authorities, customs brokers);
• companies involved in importing or exporting (for example, food processors, retail traders);
• regulatory agencies (for example, Australian Customs Service, AQIS); and
• other organisations with an interest in the performance of the waterfront.