The Government has been called on to act on how pension policy impacts on women, by the IFA farm family and social affairs chairperson, Caroline Farrell.
Speaking at a protest which was organised by a group including the National Women’s Council, Age Action, and Pensioners for Equality on Thursday, she called on farmers to join the push for pension equality for women.
The protest was part of a campaign seeking measures to address inequality resulting from changes to pension calculations introduced in 2012.
The changes discriminate against individuals, particularly women, who worked within the PAYE system for a number of years but had to leave for a period due to the marriage bar or to raise a family or care for an older relative.
It is completely unacceptable that women are being discriminated against for taking time out from paid work to care for children
Farrell said: “The contributory pension is a hugely important source of income support upon retirement for self-employed workers, particularly those at lower income levels.
“It is completely unacceptable that women are being discriminated against for taking time out from paid work to care for children and family members, particularly when in some instances they were forced to give up work under the marriage bar.”
“It is saddening to meet women who have worked all their life on the farm, caring for their children and older relatives and who are now facing their old age in poverty because the State still fails to recognise their work as unpaid carers,” said Farrell.
She also pointed out that at 37%, the gender pension gap between the value of pension payments to women and to men in Ireland is the fifth widest pension gap within the EU.
She said: “To honour its commitments in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, the Government must as a matter of urgency assess how our pension policy impacts on women.”
Read more
Farmers eligible for invalidity pension
Mind your pension
Taoiseach, Ministers, power-couples – the IFA AGM had it all
The Government has been called on to act on how pension policy impacts on women, by the IFA farm family and social affairs chairperson, Caroline Farrell.
Speaking at a protest which was organised by a group including the National Women’s Council, Age Action, and Pensioners for Equality on Thursday, she called on farmers to join the push for pension equality for women.
The protest was part of a campaign seeking measures to address inequality resulting from changes to pension calculations introduced in 2012.
The changes discriminate against individuals, particularly women, who worked within the PAYE system for a number of years but had to leave for a period due to the marriage bar or to raise a family or care for an older relative.
It is completely unacceptable that women are being discriminated against for taking time out from paid work to care for children
Farrell said: “The contributory pension is a hugely important source of income support upon retirement for self-employed workers, particularly those at lower income levels.
“It is completely unacceptable that women are being discriminated against for taking time out from paid work to care for children and family members, particularly when in some instances they were forced to give up work under the marriage bar.”
“It is saddening to meet women who have worked all their life on the farm, caring for their children and older relatives and who are now facing their old age in poverty because the State still fails to recognise their work as unpaid carers,” said Farrell.
She also pointed out that at 37%, the gender pension gap between the value of pension payments to women and to men in Ireland is the fifth widest pension gap within the EU.
She said: “To honour its commitments in the National Strategy for Women and Girls 2017-2020, the Government must as a matter of urgency assess how our pension policy impacts on women.”
Read more
Farmers eligible for invalidity pension
Mind your pension
Taoiseach, Ministers, power-couples – the IFA AGM had it all
SHARING OPTIONS