20/06/2008
Are Mums being short-changed?
by Kate Harvey
A report out today claims that the low pay of female workers is to blame for child poverty rates in the UK.
Women in the UK are more likely to be poor than anywhere else in Europe.
Research undertaken by the TUC, the End Child Poverty Association, and the Fawcett Society, found that one in three women earn less than £100 a week compared with one in seven men.
Brendan Barber of the TUC warned:
“As 40% of households are headed by single mothers, this has concerning implications for tackling child poverty.”
Minister for Women, Harriet Harman, said the government is committed to doing more to help mothers:
“That is why we will have a strong Equality Bill which will set out to Parliament later this month.”
Gemma Warne, a single mother of one, has recently returned to work part-time and earns £96 a week. But even with her previous full-time job, she admits that she could not earn enough to live on her own.
“Even when I was working 39 hours a week and taking home £200 a week it wasn’t enough. I wouldn’t be able to live without help from the government. I don’t think it’s fair to say I should get more help from the government, but maybe the minimum wage should be increased.”