Report: Job barriers still hamper women

BRUSSELS, March 8 (UPI) -- Women who choose to work still face deep-rooted inequalities in childcare and household duties which restrict their job opportunities, a report says.

An uneven sharing of household and child-rearing responsibilities affects career choices and working patterns, a report released Monday by the International Trade Union Confederation concluded.

Women with children more often work part-time than their male partners or women who don't have children, the report says. A wage gender gap remains a serious obstacle, and the gap is much higher for women with children, the ITUC says.

Diana Holland of the ITUC Women's Committee called on lawmakers to develop legislation to support a decent balance between work and family life.

"At a time when the whole world is looking for solutions, it is more important than ever that we ensure women are equally involved in decision-making, and that the rights of half the world's population are included," Holland said.

"Households everywhere are being hit hard by the impact of the global jobs crisis," ITUC General Secretary Guy Ryder said, "adding to the burden that social inequality imposes on women."