Nearly 100 early childcare workers walked off the job in Canberra on Wednesday at 3:20pm as part of a national action over gender pay inequality and a lack of funding for the industry.
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The 3:20pm walk off on International Women's Day symbolised the time of day women in the industry, who dominate 97 per cent of the childcare workforce, began to work for free in comparison to similarly qualified men.
The workers took part in a 'honkathon' on Commonwealth Avenue to raise awareness and support from passing motorists.
Early Childhood Australia chief executive Samantha Page said she hoped the Fair Work Commission would recognise wages in the sector were too low because of gender equity.
"That's going to have flow on effects for the cost of childcare," Ms Page said.
She said low wages constantly drove qualified professionals in early childcare onto primary school teaching, yet at the same time the childcare industry reported record profits.
Hamilton Stone director Ian Holland said his consultancy firm's research showed out-of-pocket costs of childcare for Australian families had risen sharply between 2011 - 2016 and was disproportionately affecting lower income families.
"The challenge for government, taxpayers and families is achieving reform while ensuring that the lowest paid families don't continue to experience massive price rises for childcare," Mr Holland said.
"It would seem likely that price will need to be higher than what is paid at present, if we want wages to reflect the skills and importance of what workers in the sector do."
