05.05.15
Calls to tackle in-work poverty ‘crisis’ in Scotland
The next UK government must lay out policies to tackle an “inherited crisis” of in-work poverty in Scotland, campaigners have stated.
Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland and Unison have come together and called for investment in the social security system and say there must not be a race to the bottom on skills, pay and insecure work.
The organisations have launched a new report – Fair Work and Decent Childhoods – that calls on the next government to tackle work insecurity, rebalance employment rights, and support work life balance and high-quality childcare.
The report noted that six in 10 children who live in poverty have at least one parent in work, and one in five of the workforce is earning less than the living wage including 39,000 workers delivering Scotland public services. CPAG in Scotland case evidence also highlights how in-work poverty is undermining family life, damaging children and too often leaving families reliant on food banks.
John Dickie, director of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, said: “The new UK government will inherit a child poverty crisis with a shocking 59% of poor children in Scotland living in working families.
“For the future of our children and our economy we need urgent action to make work fair for parents and allow them to give their children the decent childhoods they deserve.”
The report calls on the next government to invest in both public services and the social security system and to make sure work is family friendly.
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