Over the past few years, pension reform discussions have been high on the national agenda, but little has been done, creating ripples only to subside once more, notwithstanding the number of reports published by constituted bodies and organisations, giving their recommendations. Today we are still discussing this issue in an effort to find solutions and ensure that government and social partners reach agreement on national policy and implementation to address the multifaceted issues of pensions for women.

In the past few years women’s participation in the labour market has increased and has reached 48 per cent, providing sustenance to the government’s coffers. This change has come about following the introduction of family-friendly legislation and measures such as increased maternity leave, teleworking, reduced hours, career breaks, tax incentives, and more recently, free childcare centres.

Addressing undeclared work – also at EU level – also aims to encourage women through strong public awareness campaigns and incentives to join the formal labour market rather than remaining invisible with no social benefits and protection, making them realise that work pays. The short-term benefits of working in the black economy could translate into poverty at a later stage in life.

It is somewhat difficult for many women to achieve the full 40-year contribution period, since they interrupt their working life to become mothers or to look after ageing parents and other dependents of the family, because it is still the cultural obligation for the woman to offer these caring services which, in reality, are a contribution to society. However, in return, women are penalised for having children and/or for having served caring duties.The message that must be sent should be a pro-family one, given the low birth rate currently prevailing.

If the government were to add up all the costs of Club 3-16, not only the teachers/carers costs, but the transport costs, the pollution cost, against the NI contribution being paid by those using the centres, would there be a positive balance for the government?

I am not implying that these are not good solutions. Why do we still have schools that open at 8am and finish at 1.30 or 2.30pm? Why do children not have a full day at school, the same hours as a normal working day, in line with other EU countries?

Unlike most men, women have career breaks, and according to statistics, they work until they are in their late 20s, when they stop to have a family and return to the labour market in their late 30s or early 40s. Women should be encouraged to use this ‘break time’ to increase or build on their skills, to enhance their job opportunities once they re-enter the labour market.

The rate of women – whether over 40, or worse still, over 55 – in the labour market is very low, and whereas the number of pensioners working after retiring age has increased, that of female pensioners has lagged. We rank second from last at EU level, just ahead of Slovenia.

Female entrepreneurship must also be encouraged as this may offer the flexibility of working hours and monetary gains, apart from creating jobs for others.

Women may have worked at home all their life or worked alongside their husband in the family business, but never paid any contributions; they will live on their husband’s pension and their savings. How many women are in dire straits because contributions were not paid for a variety of reasons, often beyond a woman’s control?

A woman who has worked part or all her life will receive her own pension when she retires and so will her husband, but when she is widowed she must choose between her pension and a widow’s pension, which is outright discrimination. A woman who has worked has a right to a pension because she has contributed towards it, and like women who have never contributed, she also has a right to the widow’s pension – both are contributory pensions!

What provisions have been made for a separated/divorced woman? Should she be entitled by law to her husband’s pension?

The list goes on. It is clear that a reform of pensions cannot be implemented in isolation; it must also comprehensively tackle all the other aspects, including the socio-economic dimension from a gender perspective.

Mary Gaerty is president of the National Council of Women.

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