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back to News HeadlinesWomen still disadvantaged by pensions policy
The government's current policy of al-lowing the basic and second state pensions to decline, while increasing the reliance on occupational and other private schemes, will continue to disadvantage women, according to a new study from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC).
Research by Dr Jay Ginn, NPC pensions advisor, published by the ESRC entitled Gender, Employment and Pension Acquisition, found that under existing arrangements, periods of mother-hood, divorce and caring for dependent relatives will inevitably continue to make today's working women poorer in retirement.
International comparisons also reveal that Britain's pension system is much more male-friendly than those of other English-speaking welfare states, as much of the women-friendly features of the state pensions system introduced by Barbara Castle in the 1970s have since been dismantled or made ineffective.
These inequalities in pension provision were acknowledged by the government in its recent Green paper, but no change in policy has been proposed.
Dr Ginn said: "Despite women's in-creased participation in employment, most cannot rely on private pensions to provide an adequate personal income in later life. Only improved state pensions with protection of caring periods or a universal citizen's pension, can ensure that women's unpaid family care work does not lead to poverty and dependency in retirement."
