May Day reminder to protect women and young people in the workplace

May Day reminder to protect women and young people in the workplace - The Labour Party

Labour Senator Laura Harmon has urged Government to step up for young women who are forced to leave Ireland for better work opportunities.

Following a paper published by the Department of Enterprise that shows the number of Irish women emigrating is almost double that of men, Harmon called for a renewed focus on better pay and conditions for those working in education, healthcare and childcare.

Senator Harmon said:

“There’s a distinct lack of understanding from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil when it comes to young people, and young women in particular. The number of women emigrating from Ireland has jumped 56% since 2020. We also know that we have the highest levels of outward emigration of young people since 2015.

“Housing and the cost of living play no small role in this crisis, but the failure of successive Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalitions to address pay, terms and conditions in female dominated careers is deepening the divide at work.

“We are losing educated workers like teachers, healthcare staff and early years’ educators from the failure of this Government to address the cost of living in this country.

“Ireland is becoming no country for young people, and young women in particular. The Government has turned its back on young people, leaving them with no choice but to seek opportunities abroad.”