Calls for jobs package for women, who are losing jobs at a far higher rate than men because of COVID
COVID is costing far more women their jobs than men. Now there are calls for a stimulus package designed specifically with women in mind. SEE THE IDEAS
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison is being urged to deliver a JobMaker stimulus package targeting jobs growth for women to tackle the COVID-19 ‘pink recession’.
Among the pivotal recommendations being made are free childcare and equal paid parental leave for dads.
Australian Bureau of Statistic figures released on Thursday show the number of women in full-time and part-time work in SA plunged 4 per cent from February to July, while it dropped 1.6 per cent for men.
The number of unemployed women in SA rose 42.5 per cent, compared with 33.7 per cent for men over the same period.
Minister for Women Marise Payne told the Sunday Mail she would further investigate greater work flexibility following advice from about 150 female business and not-for-profit leaders at a virtual Women’s Job Creation Forum held on Tuesday.
“We … know that when we increase women’s workforce participation, everyone benefits – women, businesses, the economy and the community benefit,” said Ms Payne, who hosted the forum.
The forum’s discussion will help the Government refresh the Women’s Economic Security Statement (WESS) and has been criticised as a “box-ticking exercise” to meet commitments under the 2018 WESS.
Australian Greens co-deputy leader Senator Larissa Waters said there was clear and immediate action the Government could be taking to help women through the pandemic that would be far more effective than hosting “a private, closed forum that ignores the key drivers of workforce participation”.
“Childcare should be free in the same way that schooling is free,” said Bianca Hartge-Hazelman, founder of Financy.com.au and the Financy Women’s Index.
“There is no doubt in my mind that if we had a childcare system that actually was more supportive of the family unit that you would have more women participating in the workforce,” she said.
Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Libby Lyons has backed former SA Premier Jay Weatherill’s proposal for early childhood education to be taken over by the states and run as part of the public school system.
Ms Lyons said the costs of childcare were “prohibitive for many, many families” and was “probably the biggest barrier to women in engaging in the workforce”, as was unequal paid parental leave.
She said the Government also needed to be more “creative” in its approach to economic recovery, rather than focusing on construction and infrastructure, and equally ensure that “gender is on the tender”.
“So when tenders are being let, they ensure that women are getting an equal go at being part of these project teams as men,” she said.
The Australia Institute has found spending on the highly-feminised industries of healthcare, education and tourism created more jobs than funding other industries.
“Every million dollars invested into education and training creates 14.9 jobs, many of which will go to women,” SA director Noah Schultz-Byard said. “Every million dollars invested in construction on the other hand creates just 1.2 jobs.”
SA Equal Opportunity Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent, also Chiefs for Gender Equity Convenor, said mandatory publicly-reported gender analysis of all federal, state and territory government policies and programs was needed.
She said this must include, but was not limited to, industrial relations reforms, job-creation efforts across industries and gender-based budget analysis.
The Government has invested $688 million to save jobs in the home-building sector, as well as fast-tracking major infrastructure projects and $250 million for the arts sector.
Federal Labor spokeswoman for women Julie Collins said the Government must put forward a “genuine” reform agenda addressing job losses in industries dominated by females, the gender pay gap, Australian women’s shrinking super balances, and the discrimination fuelling these issues.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the Government had provided an unprecedented $314 billion in economic support, with 50 per cent of all eligible employees receiving Jobkeeper being women.
The State Government says it is currently developing a new women’s economic strategy, which will include the gendered impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women.
