Government's plan to push lone parents into work could backfire
Thousands of ill-prepared single parents could be persuaded to start employment by the government’s plans for welfare reform, according to research.
A report by recruitment firm Adecco found that the hard-line stance on lone parents could backfire.
Work and pensions secretary Peter Hain outlined plans at the end of last year that would see single parents forced to seek work as soon as their children turned seven.
However, the Adecco report said: “[These] measures are likely to bring many lone parents to the labour market who are less work-ready and have greater employment barriers than lone parents who currently use public employment services voluntarily.”
Kate Bell, head of policy at charity One Parent Families, added that it was better for everyone if single parents returned to the labour market when they were ready.
She said: “Forcing work requirements on lone parents would be counter-productive since it would discourage those who are work-ready from coming forward for the voluntary help on offer.
“Lone parents face a series of work barriers and need tailored employment support – including training and extra childcare – not ‘quick-fix’ initiatives.”
There are 1.9 million lone parents in the UK, according to the report, 90% of them women. Barriers to employment for lone parents include lack of qualifications, time out of work, childcare expenses and ill health.
COMMENTS
The problem is in the topic itself- if we are conceiving of moving someone from care of a child to pushing pencils as a move to 'work' we are clearly ignoring the entire role of caregiving - nurturing, feeding, clothing, listening to, teaching a child. The role being left behind is also vital work to not just a child's wellbeing or a household but to the nation. The move to force parents away from children is cruel to children and denies women any basic rights about career or lifestyle decision, based entirely on the massive crime they committed of being single or poor. Governments should move ahead into the light realizing that unpaid caregiving is a vital part of an economy. It is ridiculous to force women to go out of the home and earn a pittance while the state pays much more to put their children in care by a stranger. It is not even good economics for the state.
Beverley Smith
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