Received from: TUC Women's Conference
Congress recognises that the responsibility of juggling paid work with caring for children and other dependent family members falls disproportionally on women within our society. the increase in the cost of childcare is impacting negatively on women in work.
The current cost of living crisis is pushing families into poverty, and it is widely known that this disproportionately affects women, BAEM, disabled and migrant workers, and other groups who already face inequality in our society.
Good-quality childcare is often too expensive and/or not accessible to many working parents. Childcare costs take up nearly half of women’s average earnings and has become unaffordable for many women due to the additional pressure of the cost-of-living crisis. The lack of affordable childcare is forcing many women to either reduce their working hours or leave the workforce altogether, which might lead to the widening of the gender pay and pension gap.
Further, Congress asserts that the existing framework of statutory family/carer pay and leave rights does not adequately support most working parents and carers with this responsibility. Women who are engaged in insecure, temporary or self-employment are among those who suffer from employment rights that do not properly support caregiving. Working irregular hours means their requirements for care do not fit within the standard ‘nine to five’ working-day, often forcing them to consider cost alternatives which many struggle to afford.
This lack of affordable childcare does not just impact on the capacity of women to work but it also impacts on their career progression. Caring responsibilities are a significant factor in limiting women’s career progression. A survey of 4,000 working women found that 67 per cent felt that childcare duties in the past decade has prevented them from receiving pay rises, promotions or career progression.
Despite forthcoming improvements to flexible working rights, too many employers will still be able to refuse reasonable requests due to “business needs”.
Employers should work with trade unions to ensure that caring is not a barrier to equal pay, promotion and career development.
Congress asserts that we need a modern, high-quality, affordable childcare system that supports a flexible approach to both parenting and work.
Congress calls on the TUC Women’s Committee and affiliates to continue to campaign for free, safe, flexible and affordable childcare for all parents from employers, governments and political parties.
Congress calls on the TUC Women’s committee to:
i. launch a campaign with our union representatives to significantly improve enhanced maternity and paternity leave and pay provided by the employer
ii. encourage union representatives to collectively negotiate increased rates for all aspects of parental leave above statutory levels
iii. continue campaigning for legislation to ensure employers advertise all roles as flexible at the recruitment stage.
Congress commits to lobby the government to:
a. improvements in all aspects of statutory maternity leave and pay and raise maternity payments and expand eligibility – including extending the eight-week qualifying period for statutory maternity pay to cover 12 weeks’ earnings for those with variable hours, so women on casual contracts are not disadvantaged
b. strengthen rights and protections at work, including a right to flexible working and family friendly working arrangements that support women to return and remain in the workplace.
TUC Women’s Conference