Selena Black
Parents may be forced to choose between meeting compliance demands and their children's interests under proposed welfare changes to force single parents of primary school age children into work, according to the National Council of Single Mothers and their Children (NCSMC).
"Sole parents need support to enter and remain in the work force, but they are also responsible for family needs and children must have the right to parental care when they need it", NCSMC convenor Dr Elspeth McInnes said on April 1.
"A focus on inventing new requirements and punishments misses the point because it does nothing to change the barriers to work force participation, but it will increase stress on already stressed families. Concerns about households where no parent is working are not as problematic as a household where no worker is parenting."
The NCSMC highlighted barriers facing single mothers seeking work, including a lack of suitable jobs and family-friendly conditions, a lack of transport and a lack of accessible, affordable, quality child care when and where it is needed. The NCSMC also pointed to the increased costs of TAFE and university education, which make it harder for single parents to gain skills.
According to the NCSMC, half of all sole parents receiving income support are also participating in paid work at any one time, and over a 12 month period around 75% of sole parents were working or studying. "There is no need to force mothers to work when labour force data clearly show that both single and married mothers go back to work as their children get older. It is harder for single parents because they often have high demand from their children, with fewer family supports, and less access to private transport and secure housing", said McInnes.
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From Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly, April 6, 2005.
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