The FNV trade union claims that women will suffer most from the new government’s cuts to healthcare and social security. In a report published on Wednesday, the union highlighted several areas of concern, including shorter unemployment benefits and a lower maximum daily wage for claimants. The report also criticised reductions in healthcare and youth services alongside tax incentives that only benefit full-time workers. According to the FNV, these measures primarily impact women because they more frequently work part-time, balance jobs with caregiving, and hold the majority of roles in the health and education sectors.
FNV Vice-Chair Jacqie van Stigt argued that the government’s agreement wrongly presents these changes as progress. She stated that the policy pushes women out of paid employment and back into unpaid care roles. As the state scales back services, the union expects the burden of care to shift onto households. Since women still perform the bulk of unpaid domestic work, they will feel the impact of these healthcare cuts more acutely. Furthermore, the union questioned the effectiveness of new pay transparency laws, calling them a “paper promise” that fails to close the gender pay gap. The FNV, alongside unions CNV and VCP, has refused to negotiate with the government until these social security cuts and new pension plans are scrapped.
@ anp | News Brainport
