Monday, December 10, 2007
Women Shut Out of EI: New Study
Most women are getting shut out of Employment Insurance (EI) coverage in Canada, says a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA).
The gap between men's and women’s EI coverage is significant: 40 percent of unemployed men received EI benefits in 2004 while only 32 percent of unemployed women did. The study shows the likelihood of most women ever receiving unemployment benefits is slim, largely because EI doesn’t recognize that women have different patterns of paid work than men due to their family responsibilities. The study found a number of changes to EI in 1996 led to increasing the gap between men’s and women’s EI coverage, but the current work hours/weeks required to qualify have been the biggest barrier to women securing benefits.
These findings correspond with ACTEW’s research on Women and EI, released in a fact sheet in January 2007. This research found that women with young children are the least likely to qualify for EI. While women have increased accessing EI through maternal and/or parental benefits, many women do not qualify for maternity/parental leave, either due to being self-employed or being out of the workforce for extended periods.
The CCPA study recommends the federal government make 360 hours the new magic number for qualifying for EI. Workers could qualify for benefits if they work 360 hours within 12 months or if they averaged 360 hours a year in three of the five years before they apply for EI. The new 360 hour rule would apply to workers seeking all categories of benefits: regular, work-sharing, maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care and training.
The study, “Women and the Employment Insurance Program”, can be downloaded from the CCPA web site.
The gap between men's and women’s EI coverage is significant: 40 percent of unemployed men received EI benefits in 2004 while only 32 percent of unemployed women did. The study shows the likelihood of most women ever receiving unemployment benefits is slim, largely because EI doesn’t recognize that women have different patterns of paid work than men due to their family responsibilities. The study found a number of changes to EI in 1996 led to increasing the gap between men’s and women’s EI coverage, but the current work hours/weeks required to qualify have been the biggest barrier to women securing benefits.
These findings correspond with ACTEW’s research on Women and EI, released in a fact sheet in January 2007. This research found that women with young children are the least likely to qualify for EI. While women have increased accessing EI through maternal and/or parental benefits, many women do not qualify for maternity/parental leave, either due to being self-employed or being out of the workforce for extended periods.
The CCPA study recommends the federal government make 360 hours the new magic number for qualifying for EI. Workers could qualify for benefits if they work 360 hours within 12 months or if they averaged 360 hours a year in three of the five years before they apply for EI. The new 360 hour rule would apply to workers seeking all categories of benefits: regular, work-sharing, maternity, parental, sickness, compassionate care and training.
The study, “Women and the Employment Insurance Program”, can be downloaded from the CCPA web site.
Labels: Issues_and_Trends, Resources_and_Research
