Some parents unable to return to work when N.S. businesses reopen as daycares remain closed
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NDP MLA Claudia Chender said a lot of parents will be in similar situations to Marriott and MacDonnell on June 5.
‘I think what we’re already seeing is some efforts at bringing the economy back that completely leave out caregivers who, not always, but in many cases are women and that’s really concerning,’ the Dartmouth South MLA told The Chronicle Herald on Thursday.
‘This situation has created a situation where there are many, many, many people in our province acting as unpaid caregivers in ways they’re not used to doing, so listening to those plans be laid out (Wednesday) without reference at all to how caregivers would be accommodated was really disappointing.’
Over the course of the pandemic, Chender said she’s heard from essential workers who have lost their jobs due to child care needs.
Chender said she doesn’t believe pushing the date back to ensure there is clarity and safety in the child care sector is a bad thing, but said more options need to be pursued to accommodate children of all ages across the province.
Recently, Chender received unanimous support from the all-party standing committee on human resources, asking Labour Minister Labi Kousoulis to make ‘flexible work hours and other accommodations so that workers with dependents, women, in particular, are not further disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.’
‘The reality is that many, many, many families on June 5 are going to have to make a choice between who goes back to work and who doesn’t, and given the wage differentials between men and women that still exist, in many cases women will be the ones who stay home and may or may not be able to re-enter the workforce,’ Chender said.
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