Take action for childcare
This month parents across the UK are being asked to return to work. And, without any solution being offered on childcare, many will face agonising choices. Do they risk their job by continuing to stay at home with their children? Or risk exposing others to the virus (including shielding grandparents) by asking for help?
Although some children are returning to school, hours have changed and most will not be able to return at all. Many child care centres are being forced to cut back or close their doors because they did not receive the financial support they needed during the early days of the crisis. This, coupled with social distancing rules preventing parents from receiving support from friends and families, means that many will be unable to return to work - a problem that is only growing as we open up more and more of the economy.
Demand the Government acts now to save parents’ jobs:
- Require employers to furlough any parent who requests time off for childcare.
- Ensure that parents are still able to access the furlough scheme for as long as child care provision is operating at reduced capacity & provide equivalent support for self-employed parents.
- Automatically split furlough between both parents, or with a nominated person in the case of single parents.