Pay inequality is a key factor in child poverty
Cathy Wallace
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tackling women's low pay is the key to ending child poverty, research from the TUC, the End Child Poverty Coalition and campaign group the Fawcett Society has found.
The majority of children in poverty - 57 per cent - live in households where one or more adults have jobs, the report The Iron Triangle, published on 20 June, argued.
But 30 per cent of working women earn less than £100 a week - compared with 14 per cent of men. More than 75 per cent of part-time workers are female and their average wage is £9.65 an hour.
According to the three organisations, this, on top of the discrimination women face when they have a child - such as less opportunities at work - adds up to financial loss. After having a child many women end up trapped in part-time, low-paid, low-status work, the report argues. They are more likely to temp or work as carers, where they have far fewer employment rights.
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: "Some of the country's most vulnerable workers are women and having a child puts a woman at an even greater risk of being poor.
"As 40 per cent of households are now headed up by single mothers, this has concerning implications for tackling child poverty."
The End Child Poverty coalition has organised a national demonstration on 4 October to lobby the government to fulfil its promise of ending child poverty by 2020.
But 30 per cent of working women earn less than £100 a week - compared with 14 per cent of men. More than 75 per cent of part-time workers are female and their average wage is £9.65 an hour.
According to the three organisations, this, on top of the discrimination women face when they have a child - such as less opportunities at work - adds up to financial loss. After having a child many women end up trapped in part-time, low-paid, low-status work, the report argues. They are more likely to temp or work as carers, where they have far fewer employment rights.
Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: "Some of the country's most vulnerable workers are women and having a child puts a woman at an even greater risk of being poor.
"As 40 per cent of households are now headed up by single mothers, this has concerning implications for tackling child poverty."
The End Child Poverty coalition has organised a national demonstration on 4 October to lobby the government to fulfil its promise of ending child poverty by 2020.
