Indigeneity, Labour, and Equity: Reframing Work through Indigenous Lenses

Call for Papers: Indigeneity, Labour, and Equity: Reframing Work through Indigenous Lenses

Journal: Labour and Industry
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026
Full Paper Submission Deadline: 1 October 2026

About the Special Issue

Labour and Industry invites submissions for a Special Issue on “Indigeneity, Labour, and Equity: Reframing Work through Indigenous Lenses.” This issue seeks to foreground Indigenous perspectives, knowledge systems, and lived experiences within the fields of labour studies, employment relations, industrial relations, and workplace policy.

Despite increasing attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion in labour research, Indigenous voices and epistemologies remain significantly underrepresented in academic scholarship and policy discussions. This Special Issue aims to address this gap by centering Indigenous worldviews and experiences in conversations about work, employment, labour markets, industrial relations, and economic participation.

The journal welcomes contributions from Indigenous scholars worldwide, as well as researchers working collaboratively with Indigenous communities, to explore the diverse intersections between Indigeneity, labour, employment, and social justice.

Scope and Themes

Submissions may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Indigenous justice, human rights, and labour standards
• Historical and contemporary Indigenous labour market participation
• Stolen wages and reparative justice initiatives
• Employment opportunities and challenges within Indigenous communities
• Equity, diversity, and workplace inclusion for Indigenous peoples
• Indigenous labour relations and employment policy
• Union engagement with Indigenous workers and communities
• Labour supply and demand within Indigenous contexts
• Protection of Indigenous workers’ rights
• Colonial and settler-colonial impacts on labour relations
• Workplace discrimination, exclusion, and systemic barriers
• Indigenous entrepreneurship and business development
• Economic contributions of Indigenous labour and enterprises
• Disability, employment, and Indigenous communities
• Reconciliation, truth-telling, and labour policy reform
• Indigenous methodologies and approaches to work and employment research

Why This Special Issue Matters

This Special Issue seeks to advance scholarly understanding of Indigenous experiences in labour and employment while challenging conventional approaches to industrial relations and workplace policy. By centering Indigenous perspectives, the issue aims to contribute to more equitable, inclusive, and culturally informed labour research and policy development.

Special Issue Editors

Associate Professor Sharlene Leroy-Dyer
Director, Indigenous Business Hub
University of Queensland Business School, Australia
Email: s.leroydyer@uq.edu.au

Dr Ria Te Uira Holmes
Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Emeritus Professor Boyd Hunter
Australian National University, Australia

Dr Christian Eva
Australian National University, Australia

Submission Guidelines

Authors interested in contributing should first submit an abstract outlining their proposed paper.

Abstracts should be emailed directly to:

Sharlene Leroy-Dyer
Email: s.leroydyer@uq.edu.au

The Special Issue welcomes interdisciplinary contributions from fields including labour studies, industrial relations, public policy, Indigenous studies, economics, sociology, law, management, and related disciplines.

All full manuscripts will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process.

Important Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 1 June 2026
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: 1 October 2026
• Expected Publication: Labour and Industry, Volume 3 (2027)

About the Journal

Labour and Industry is a leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to publishing interdisciplinary research on work, employment, labour markets, industrial relations, organizational dynamics, and public policy. The journal promotes innovative scholarship that challenges traditional boundaries and advances understanding of contemporary labour issues from diverse theoretical and methodological perspectives.

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