Description
EXCLUSIVE: Labor analysis shows there are now 3 million women providing informal unpaid care Unpaid carers taking time off work should be part of normal working life, such as taking a sick day or maternity leave after a baby, ministers have heard. An increasing number of women are being forced to care for their loved ones without pay as the welfare system is "stretched to breaking point", the Labor Party has warned.
The analysis revealed that there are almost half a million women classified as "sandwich carers" in the UK, meaning they care for both children and adult parents. That compares with just over 300,000 men providing the same care.
“Too often, women, especially those in their 40s, 50s and 60s, have had to shoulder this burden alone.”
Ms Dodds, MP for Oxford East, said "These women face unique pressures, caring for children and parents, juggling those responsibilities with their jobs, while trying to make ends meet." Labor has a "plan" to keep more women in this age group in the workplace, he added.
Labor has recently put forward a number of policies to support this goal, including a party commitment to eradicating the gender pay gap, as well as reviewing the family-friendly work culture, introducing more flexible working, tackling the workplace bullying and better unpaid support. caregivers
Labor has warned that women could be forced out of the workplace to care for their parents and other elderly family members.
According to census data, one in five women between the ages of 55 and 59 provide some form of informal care.
While 185,000 more women in their 50s and 60s are currently not economically active, compared to the number that was in April 2020.
Female caregivers are far more likely to work part-time or have no job at all than their male counterparts, with only a quarter working full-time.
Late last year, the government announced that employees would have the right to request flexible work as soon as they start work under the new legislation. The ministers said they would "make flexible working the standard".
The government also said 1.5 million low-wage workers such as students, caregivers and some self-employed workers would enjoy the benefits of a new law that allows them to take second jobs by limiting exclusivity clause rules. .
Last October, the government announced new laws that will give millions of people in unpaid care work one week of unpaid leave every year. The carers' leave bill was tabled by Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, and won the government's support.
NHS figures show that over 80% of adult social care jobs in 2019 were held by female workers, while government figures show that women make up the majority of informal carers in the UK.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Social Care said: "We are supporting social care with up to £7.5bn over the next two years and last week we set out the next steps to put people at the center of care, our care social". reform plan, backed by 700 million pounds over the next two years.
“This includes up to £25m for unpaid carers and £327m in funding from the Better Care Fund in 2023-24, to provide short breaks and respite services for carers, as well as additional advice and support.”
Getty/iStock
Access
