WBG response to the Levelling-Up White Paper
Government’s White Paper sets out some positive plans for levelling up but fails to acknowledge that inequality has been exacerbated by austerity.
UK Policy Briefing
This briefing sets out current issues with the shared parental leave system in the UK and the impact this has on gender-equality at home and at work.
This briefing published jointly with Maternity Action UK sets out the current problems with the shared parental leave system in the UK today, and the impact that this has on gender-equality at home and at work. Having a genuinely fair system of parental leave is one of the tenets of a more gender equal society. This joint briefing sets out a vision for what a fair shared parental leave system might look like.
Key facts:
The introduction of Shared Parental Leave (SPL) was an important recognition that care should be shared equally between parents. However, because of the lack of incentive in design, take-up by men has been low. In 2018/19 just 10% of fathers took shared parental leave. SPL has failed to tackle early years inequalities between women and men so far.
Nationally representative polling by Survation for WBG’s Commission on a Gender-Equal Economy found: Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) of people agreed that women and men should share caring tasks for children more equally.
Over two thirds (67%) of people agree that men should be encouraged and financially supported by the Government to provide more care for their children.
Government’s White Paper sets out some positive plans for levelling up but fails to acknowledge that inequality has been exacerbated by austerity.
This briefing covers the problems with the current system, principles for a reformed system and WBG recommendations.
The WBG invite you to the next in our series of Autumn/Winter webinars addressing the most pressing issues facing women across the UK today.
Submission to the Work and Pensions Committee (September 2018)