New funding for out-of-school hours care will help working parents manage their caring commitments with the demands of work, the ACTU said today.
ACTU President Ged Kearney said, “It’s important to remember that 70 per cent of people who have children are in paid work, so they need affordable, accessible and high quality childcare as well as the ability to plan their working hours around formal care.”
“Programs to support working parents, like quality before and after school care, are critical to addressing the great challenges that working parents face.”
“It’s not right that people should give up on opportunities for good, secure jobs just because they have caring responsibilities.”
“The $450 million is a very welcome investment.
“We also need employers to step up and make sure working parents have access to good jobs that also give them time to care for their loved ones.”
The ACTU recently released figures showing women earn less across every occupational group than men.
“Part of the challenge women face in the workplace is that employers are unwilling to provide the genuine flexibility they need to care for young children.
“Women fall behind in pay and opportunity because they are also juggling raising children.
“We are pleased the Labor Government has stepped up and recognised the challenges working parents face – we also need a renewed effort from business to help people maintain satisfying working lives and care for loved ones.”
