For Immediate release 30 May 2007
Coalition of groups calls for radical action to address poverty and inequality faced by women in retirement
A broad coalition of groups is coming together to call for radical change in the pensions system to address the discrimination and poverty experienced by women in retirement. One in five single women pensioners lives in poverty in retirement, while less than 20% of women qualify for a full-state pension, compared to 98% of men.
The STUC and Close the Gap conference on Women and Pensions will be held at the STUC on Thursday 31 May 2007. The conference will see a variety of stakeholders coming together to identify possible opportunities to form a campaign to challenge the inequalities and ensure that women do not suffer poverty in retirement. Speakers include representatives from the Equal Opportunities Commission, Scottish Pensioners Forum, Poverty Alliance, Pensions Policy Institute, and the STUC.
Elaine Drage, Head of Caring Policy, Equal Opportunities Commission, said:
"Pensions are a crucial issue for every woman. The current pension reforms offer a once in a generation opportunity to make pensions reflect the complex lives that women lead by recognising the contribution made by parents and carers outside of work and enabling more low-paid workers to save for their retirement. The EOC is working to ensure women are at the heart of pensions reform, because if we get it right for women, we'll get it right for everyone."
Margaret Murdoch, Chair, Scottish Pensioners Forum said:
"Our main aim is to see the link between pensions and earnings restored before 2012. If we wait this long, there will be no benefit to today’s pensioners and it will amount to only £1 of a difference from the normal annual rise, which is abysmal."
Ian Tasker, STUC Assistant Secretary, said:
"Despite a number of welcome improvements in state pension provision through the Pensions Bill, these changes will take far too long to come into effect, and fall far short of our policy a universal state pension. The unfairness suffered by women in state and occupational pensions needs to be addressed but before this can happen, employers have to make genuine and concerted efforts to close the pay gap."
ENDS
For further information, contact Ian Tasker - 07974 966 227
Notes to editors:
One in five single women pensioners lives in poverty.
Less than 20% of women qualify for a full state pension, compared with 98% of men.
For every pound of income received by men in a pensioner couple, women receive less than 32 pence.
Retired men on average have between £50 and £100 per week private pension income than women of the same age.
Agenda for STUC Women and Pensions Conference
Women and Pensions Conference
Thursday 31 May 2007
09.30 am Coffee and Registration
10.00 am Introduction
Tricia McLaren, Chair, STUC Women’s Committee
Fiona Farmer, STUC Vice President
10.15 am Dr Elaine Drage, Head of Strategic Planning and Caring Strategy, Equal Opportunities Commission
10.45 am Adam Steventon, Senior Policy Analyst, Pensions Policy Institute
11.15 am Coffee
11.30 am Ian Tasker, STUC Assistant Secretary
11.50 am Isabelle Gray, Fieldwork Development Officer, Poverty Alliance
12.10 pm Margaret Murdoch, Chair, Scottish Pensioners’
Forum
12.30 pm Panel Discussion
13.00 pm Lunch