This International Women’s Day, Councillors have formed a new collaboration to tackle the economic inequality between men and women in the city.
Cabinet Members Chris Penberthy, Jemima Laing and Sally Haydon have implemented action on Community Safety, Poverty, Skills and Education, Housing, Health, and Children’s Services throughout their careers.
They are starting this focus on work and wages, with an invitation to women’s organisations in Plymouth to meet to discuss the causes and consequences of economic inequality.
Trevi, Gifted Women, and Westcountry Women’s Awards will be founder contributors to the discussion. Professor Jasmine Kelland at the University of Plymouth Business School will support discussions with her expertise and network that focusses on men’s experiences of balancing work with caring responsibilities.
Phase two will invite businesses from the city to discuss their experiences of tackling work accessibility, low wages, flexible working, discrimination, and other measures to address this persistent imbalance.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Deputy Leader of the Council said: “This project is something we are all equally passionate about, we want to come together and help tackle economic inequality.
“A real living wage is necessary for individuals to pay for basic living expenses. At £12.60 per hour or £466 for a 37 hour week, around half of women in Plymouth earn less compared to one in five men.
“The consequences of this don’t just leave women relying on other people for basic living expenses, it also affects families and children, and wider communities.
“We look forward to starting this project and engaging with businesses in the city on this important issue.”
Proactive approaches by businesses in the city include enhanced support for flexible working, enhanced paternity pay and parental leave, travel to work plans for parents and carers and women-specific support such as networking, mentoring, and ensuring that there is a woman on recruitment panels for shortlisting and interviews.