Government acknowledges needs of women
returners
June 27
The flexible work recruitment agency recommended by the Prime Minister’s women and work commission has been to 11 Downing Street to celebrate its success.
Women Like Us, which was set up three years ago, has registered over 5000 women who want to get back to work.
Director of Women Like Us, Karen Mattison said: “The good news is that government and employers are now recognising the talent pool of women returners.”
She added: “Women who want flexible work are off everyone’s radar – this is the hidden problem. Most women returners do not show up on unemployment statistics because they may have a partner in work, whether on a low wage or not, and so do not claim benefits.”
The Fawcett Society who recently launched a campaign to highlight the link between the gender income gap and child poverty, is also keen to address mother’s equal access to pay.
Dr Katherine Rake, director of the Fawcett Society said: “We will only succeed in ending child poverty when we address mother’s inequality by ensuring they have access to equal pay, adequate benefits and freedom from discrimination.”
But author of Why Love Matters, Sue Gerhardt, said that getting mums back to work would not necessarily end child poverty.
She said: “I’d much rather they help support families with babies financially, so they’re not under that kind of pressure to rush back or they can make some sort of creative solution between the parents or relatives, to look after the baby properly.
“That would be a hugely beneficial social intervention which would help in the long run to cut down on mental illness and crime and all the rest.”