”On the one hand, you're punished for working but then when you're in the labour market and in employment, you're indirectly punished for being a carer.”
A Northern Ireland mum has called on Stormont to "stop using unpaid carers as doormats" and says people "shouldn't be punished for caring".
The CPC research estimates that a combination of flexible working and paid carer’s leave could increase the number of unpaid carers in employment in the province by over 6000 . Other carers could be supported to increase their hours. Previous research from CPC revealed that one in three carers in Northern Ireland leave work due to caring commitments. This has an enormous impact on their careers and finances. Locally over half of carers who are unemployed are living in poverty. The poverty rate for those in employment is much lower at 14%.
”I am fortunate that I'm able to work and part of that is to keep me and my children out of poverty but I have had to recently reduce my working hours so there is that financial loss. I am under no illusion that as time progresses and I age that I'll either have to reduce my working hours down again or potentially leave work altogether. That's just an unfortunate reality of caring and working.
“Workplace supports, and improved provision of social care can help unpaid carers to enter or remain in employment and bring in a wage as well as balance caring with paid work. It is also a huge benefit to employers saving them millions per year in recruitment costs as well as having a significant impact on our economy with massive savings on benefit spending and increased gains in taxes. It is a win-win for everyone.
In response, a Department for the Economy spokesperson said: “The important benefits carers bring to society and the local economy cannot be overstated. It is vitally important, therefore, that those in employment with caring responsibilities are supported to balance those responsibilities with their work commitments so that they can remain within the workforce.
Northern Ireland Real Life Family Stormont Co Derry Department For The Economy
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