YWCA England & Wales

News

Categories: jobs and work, money and debt, NEETs, poverty, press releases
Monday, 8 December 2008
YWCA’s response to the Queen’s speech

YWCA welcomes the Equality Bill

YWCA welcomes the Equality Bill and the opportunity to strengthen and streamline existing legislation in this area. We are especially pleased with the focus on reducing the gender pay gap.

However, we are concerned that young women under the age of 18 may not be covered by the changes and may continue to be affected by age discrimination. We would like to see the Bill outlaw lower rates of national minimum wage for young people and lower levels of benefits for young mothers.

Apprenticeships and the new 14-19 agenda, including diplomas, as part of the Children, Skills and Learners Bill provide an exciting opportunity for young women to learn new skills and find work that's right for them. We want them to have high-quality careers advice that gives them the support and inspiration to make non-stereotypical choices and challenge the gender stereotypes and barriers to work that hold them back.

YWCA supports the Welfare Reform Bill's objective to provide help to people to make the most of their chances of being in sustainable employment. We believe that increased skills and the right kind of support can offer a route into work and out of poverty for disadvantaged young women and their children.

However, we remain concerned that sanctions may be imposed on young women without them having been given the right kind of support in the first place. Tailored support to help build self-esteem and confidence and good quality guidance is as essential as new skills to make sure that young women are not simply pushed into low-paid jobs with no chance of progression.

The Government made a promise to end child poverty by 2020. Imposing sanctions on disadvantaged young women who are unable to take a job is not the way to meet this promise.