Single mothers focus of presentation to minister

The barriers faced by single mothers during the transition from training to employment were the focus of a discussion and presentation hosted by the Bay St. George Status of Women on Friday, February 20, which was attended by Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Jim Hodder, MHA for Port au Port.

The Taking Our Places Project is funded by Status of Women Canada and Phase Three builds upon the work already achieved in the first two phases as it works to break down these barriers and enable women to take part in decision-making processes, both in the public and private sectors. It involves a partnership between the Bay St. George Status of Women and the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment to identify gender implications for single mothers engaged in job search activities.

"Women were 55 per cent of all adults who received social assistance and led almost 93 per cent of single parent families who received social assistance as of January 2004," said Minister Burke. "This highlights a need for organizations to include women and the realities they face when action plans and policies are designed to encourage community economic development and employment."

Statistics show that women in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2002 comprised approximately 49 per cent of the workforce, yet only 30 per cent of the employees who earned over $42,000 annually were women. Of those who earned less than $21,000 annually 66 per cent were women. Women also comprised approximately 43 per cent of the full-time workforce and 69 per cent of the part-time workforce.

One strategy to advance the economic equality of women is to achieve a more balanced distribution of women throughout a wider range of occupations in the provincial labour force. This means increasing the participation of women in areas where they are currently under-represented, such as the trades, where there is potential for growth and preferred wages. Over the past year government has been successful in setting conditions which require major projects such as Voisey�s Bay and White Rose to consider gender balance when hiring or awarding contracts.

"But we also need to look at the barriers this project has highlighted that would keep women from taking advantage of these opportunities," said Minister Burke. "My department is committed to working with the Bay St. George Status of Women on these issues."

Media contact:
          Kelly Foss, Women�s Policy Office, (709) 729-6225
          Jacquelyn Howard, Human Resources, Labour and Employment, (709) 729-4062

2004 02 20                                        4:40 p.m.