PRESS RELEASE FROM THE NATIONAL WOMEN’S COUNCIL OF IRELAND

Published: Monday, November 22, 2010

The majority of workers in the lowest paid sectors of the economy - retail, hotels and restaurants, childcare - are women. On average, women are paid 10.7% less than men. In the private sector, women are paid almost 20% less than men. Cutting the minimum wage will widen this gap and expose women to exploitation and their children to poverty.
Child benefit must also be protected. With many low paid women already having taken pay cuts and reductions in hours, cutting it would mean that many would no longer be able to afford childcare costs. "Driving women in to poverty and out of the workforce is not they road to economic recovery, but to economic ruin," said Susan McKay, CEO of the National Women's Council. "In advance of the general election, we demand that the political parties commit themselves to women's equality ."
Contacts: Susan McKay, 087 7582222 / Camille Loftus, policy officer, NWCI, 087 9790985