‘COVID burden’ on women must be addressed by Government, says Chambers Ireland

On International Women’s Day (8 March 2021) Chambers Ireland calls on Government to ease the intensified ‘COVID burden’ on women by introducing policies focused on flexible work, parenting equality and the provision of affordable childcare.

This aim must be at the centre of the National Economic Plan to ensure women are not left behind during the economic recovery. The call by Chambers Ireland follows the publication of research which showed that over half (57%) of female entrepreneurs in Ireland found caring and home duties more difficult because of COVID-19 – a figure that is 11 percentage points higher than their European counterparts. A total of 52% said the pandemic had a “strong to severe” impact on their work-life balance.

Speaking today, Chambers Ireland Chief Executive Ian Talbot called for a national strategy on flexible working and more measures to support greater parenting equality.

“Throughout the last year, research has indicated that the impact of the pandemic has been felt more strongly by women. This includes part-time workers who have lost their jobs to frontline workers in health and essential services. Increasing amounts of data show that the work-life balance of women in the workplace has suffered a significant decline.

“Last week, in association with our Brussels-based sister organisation, Eurochambres, we published data which illustrated how COVID-19 confinement measures have heightened several pre-existing obstacles for female entrepreneurs.

“Looking at Irish data specifically, 57% of female entrepreneurs noted that remote working made it more difficult to carry our caring and home duties. This figure is more than 10% higher than their European counterparts. The research is evidence of what we have been hearing from many of our members over the past year – which is that women in the workplace have been more likely to carry the weight of caring responsibilities and home duties during restrictions.

“On International Women’s Day, our message to Government and policymakers is that we must ensure the long-term impact of the pandemic does not result in a permanently wider gender pay gap. Flexible working, parenting equality and investment in affordable childcare must be at the centre of the National Economic Plan and the Government’s response to the recovery.

“Our message to our own members and employers is that we must work even harder to ensure family-friendly work policies are a bigger part of the workplace. While schools and childcare have started to re-open, flexibility and support for working families will remain a necessity. A workplace that places gender equality at the heart of its operations is a workplace which is flexible and supportive of working families. On International Women’s Day, we must ensure that this message is heard loud and clear.”

ENDS

For further information contact Jonathan Baxter, Communications and Media Executive at Chambers Ireland on 086 608 1605 or email jonathan.baxter@chambers.ie.

Notes to Editor:

The full report is available to read here.

Among the key findings of the Eurochambres Women Network’s survey are:

  • Caring/Home Duties: 46% of respondents found that remote working caused by pandemic restrictions made it more difficult to carry out caring and home duties.
  • Worse work/life balance: 50% of respondents said the pandemic has had a strong to severe impact on their work/life balance.
  • Business transformation: Two-thirds of women entrepreneurs said that confinement measures have obliged them to change their business model, with a similar proportion believing that this will have a long-term impact on the company vision.
  • Digital skills deficit: 75% indicated the need for training and support to enhance digital skills.

Irish Figures (90 respondents out of 536):

  • Caring/Home Duties: 57% of respondents found that remote working caused by pandemic restrictions made it more difficult to carry out caring and home duties.
  • Worse work/life balance: 52% of respondents said that the pandemic has had a strong to severe impact on their work/life balance.
  • Business transformation: 78% had to “transform, practically or totally, their business models”
  • Digital skills deficit: Only 21% noted the need for further digital training/support.
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