Chamberlain: Remove barriers for women by supporting unpaid carers
Speaking on International Women’s Day, Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader Wendy Chamberlain MP has pledged to improve support for unpaid carers in order to tackle gender inequality across society, as she highlighted that the majority of Scotland’s unpaid carers are female.
According to the Scottish Government’s 2023-24 Carers Census survey, 73% of all unpaid carers are female.
A 2023 survey from Care Scotland found that a third of female unpaid carers have given up employment to care. A further 55% said that their physical health has suffered as a result of their caring role, while 81% felt stressed or anxious because of it.
Scottish Liberal Democrats have brought forward a series of measures to help unpaid carers across the country, including through Ms Chamberlain's Carer’s Leave Act.
The party now wants to see measures to expand respite for unpaid carers as part of a package of proposals that will form part of the party's Scottish election manifesto.
Wendy Chamberlain said:
“On International Women's Day I want to recognise the work of the many women across Scotland who provide unpaid care and support day after day. Unpaid carers are the backbone of society. Their love and commitment, however, comes at a significant emotional and economic cost. They are too often forgotten and ignored.
"In Scotland, as in the rest of the UK, women make up almost three quarters of unpaid cares and we need to recognize this if we are to tackle the inequalities facing so many women and girls today.
“Scottish Liberal Democrats are the party of care. I am so proud to have passed the Carer’s Leave Act, which allows unpaid carers to better balance work and caring responsibilities. In recent budget negotiations with the Scottish Government, my party worked hard to secure a right for family carers to earn more. But there is still a long way to go.
“We need to give unpaid carers the fair deal they deserve. One way to do this would be to expand support for carer's respite, allowing women who care to take a well-deserved break, supporting their wellbeing and driving down inequalities.”