Scottish Labour Women’s Conference 2023: Usdaw seeks an end to women’s and children’s poverty

Tracy Gilbert – Usdaw Regional Officer for Scotland says: “One in four children living in Scotland are living in poverty. Child poverty and women’s poverty are inextricably linked, so tackling women’s poverty is critical to the long-term success of any child poverty strategy, as well as being an important aim in its own right.

“Women are at greater risk of poverty, are more likely to suffer recurrent and longer spells in poverty and have more debt than men. Because of unpaid caring responsibilities they often work fewer hours and as a result have fewer savings and smaller pensions.  The work women do in sectors like retail has long been undervalued and insecure.

“Research demonstrates that women’s efforts to shield their children from the effects of poverty mean they feel its effect more keenly. While we welcome the Scottish Child Payment, conference notes that the rising cost of living, with the cost of basic essentials rising fastest, means its value is falling and without urgent and sustained action the Scottish Government will miss the interim child poverty targets it has set itself.

“We welcome the Scottish Labour Party’s Action Plan to End Child Poverty and are calling on the Party to develop measures and commit to principles that specifically address the inadequacy of benefit rates received by parents and mothers as well as by children.  Also to address women’s disadvantaged labour market position and the many obstacles faced by low income, migrant, young and disabled mothers who want to take up paid work.”