Women’s experience of precarious work should be high on agenda for new Low-Pay Commission
Published: Wednesday, July 16, 2014
National Women’s Council of Ireland host Discussion, Performance and Exhibition on Challenges facing Women in Work at EU House – July 16th
“Women’s experience of precarious work should be high on the agenda for the new Low-Pay Commission”, according to National Women’s Council of Ireland Policy Officer, Alice-Mary Higgins.
The Discussion and Performance on women and work which took place in European Union House today was, Ms. Higgins suggested, “particularly timely in light of new Government commitments to tackling low pay as a majority of those on low incomes are women and many have first-hand experience of the vast difference between genuine flexibility and the growing insecurity found in many Irish workplaces”
Marking the arrival of NWCI’s STILL WE WORK Exhibition to EU House after a number of months touring Ireland, the event brought together a range of perspectives on some of the challenges facing working women in Ireland today - including limited access to affordable, accessible childcare and the rise of precarious work. Panelists also focused on the wider European context and engagement with these issues and the role of collective organisation.
According to Barbara Nolan, Head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, who chaired the morning’s discussion. “The lack of affordable childcare remains a significant barrier to women working in Ireland. Net childcare costs average out at over 40% of income, compared to an EU average of 12%. In addition, parents in Ireland bear almost the entire cost directly, unlike other EU countries, where State support is significant. The European Commission recently recommended that Ireland should improve access to affordable childcare, particularly for low income families, as a step to increase employment and reduce the gap between male and female employment.”
David Joyce, Equality Officer with ICTU, also spoke and highlighted the importance of women’s participation within unions, “Trade unions have been to the fore in securing great advances in the rights of all workers, including women workers, since 1913, yet now in 2014 there are still huge deficits in terms of decent work and even previous gains for women’s working rights face serious threats in the context of austerity”
Other speakers at the event included former MEP Mary Banotti, Marie Sherlock from SIPTU and Tina Dio from the Domestic Workers Support Group. The theme of precarious work was also explored in a creative way by Katie O’Kelly who performed selected extracts from her play “Counter Culture” on the theme of zero-hour contracts.
STILL WE WORK: Representations of Women and Work
EU House, Dawson Street - Part of The NWCI Legacy Project
This small exhibition brings together some of the artwork produced as part of a NWCI Legacy project which set out to creatively challenge mainstream representations of women and work. Curated by Valerie Connor, artists Miriam O'Connor, Sarah Browne, Vagabond Reviews and Anne Tallentire each bring a unique approach and vision to the task, highlighting often neglected aspects of women’s experience of work.
Media Contact 01 8787248 or email alicemaryh@nwci.ie