- Conference
- 2007 National Women's Conference
- Date
- 16 October 2006
- Decision
- Carried
Conference believes that the proposed changes to the state pension have a disproportionate impact on women for the following reasons.
The number of years which have to be worked to ensure a complete contribution record entitling a woman to a full state pension, discriminates against women who have taken time out from the workplace to bring up children or to care for elderly relatives. Women can rarely afford to pay additional contributions to top up their contribution record.
The proposed changes to the number of years which will result in a full contribution record, 30 years, would result in a higher proportion of men achieving this than women. This would mean that the pay inequality faced by women during their working life will be carried on into retirement.
Conference calls on the National Women’s Committee to work with the wider union to make representations to the Department of Work and Pensions to set the number of years which make up a full contribution record at a level which will ensure that a similar proportion of women as men are able to claim a full pension.