Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Women's Unfair Responsibility for Unpaid Care and Domestic Work
Letter to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, 22 December 2021
Dear Deputy First Minister
COVID-19 restrictions
I am writing on behalf of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee in relation to the potential implications of further restrictions being implemented as a result of concerns around the Omicron variant of Covid-19.
The Committee has recently taken evidence from stakeholders as part of its ongoing inquiry into Women’s Unfair Responsibility for Unpaid Care and Domestic Work and has heard about the disproportionate impact on women that restrictions have had over the past eighteen months. Witnesses we heard from were in broad agreement that the pandemic has exacerbated pre-existing inequalities for women.
As noted by the Scottish Government in its Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Report from March 2021, evidence shows that many women face challenges in accessing the labour market, particularly disabled women, older women, minority ethnic women, women from poorer socio-economic backgrounds and women with caring responsibilities. The Scottish Government’s Budget 2021-22 Equality and Fairer Scotland Budget statement also recognised the burden on women as a key emerging risk to progressing national outcomes as a result of the pandemic.
The Committee welcomes commitments made by the Scottish Government in its Programme for Government to attempt to address these issues. However, concerns have been expressed to the Committee that there is likely to be inadequate support in place for women should restrictions require to be re-introduced quickly. Witnesses emphasised to us that women continue to shoulder the burden for the majority of unpaid, informal care and household duties and this is having a significant impact on their financial security, mental health and well-being and on their ability to work and access training.
In order to address some of the issues women encounter, the Committee heard that policy solutions require to be gender sensitive and take account of intersectionality. Suggestions included the need for gender sensitive employment support and increased access to flexible childcare. The Committee also heard that there is a lack of gender disaggregated data. Collection of such data could help to inform policy development more effectively.
The Committee is seeking reassurance that the Scottish Government, in considering its approach to future restrictions, will take into account the significant impact restrictions have and continue to have on women, and particularly on those with protected characteristics. We would ask that the Scottish Government considers taking a gender-based approach and if possible, hears directly from women’s groups and those representing protected characteristics about what immediate support could be made available, to inform any decision-making process.
With best wishes
Yours sincerely
Joe FitzPatrick MSP
Convener
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee