Tuesday 18 June 2013

Welcome for MSPs' call for statutory right to childcare

UNISON Equalities Officer Eileen Dinning today welcomed a report by MSPs calling for a timetable for a statutory right to childcare.

The Scottish Parliament's Equal Opportunities Committee said the move, along with more flexible working patterns, could transform women's access to work.

Eileen, chair of the STUC Women's Committee, said: "We welcome the committee's report as it reinforces our experience of the obstacles women face in the workplace.

"We have long argued for free and universal childcare and we hope this is the first step to achieving that goal."

UNISON's evidence to the Committee's inquiry into women and work also highlighted concerns about zero hours contracts. Today's report condemned the abuse of these contracts, where all the 'flexibility' lies with the employer and none with the employee as "utterly unacceptable."

Eileen added: "The report's recommendations are a recognition of the contribution women make to the workplace and ensuring they have good employment conditions makes economic sense. This report must not end up on a shelf gathering dust.

"Scottish women are a significant part of the electorate and politicians need to respond to their demands accordingly."

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