Women attempting to reenter the paid labour force are usually steered toward low-paying jobs requiring few skills. Other barriers facing women are lack of information about training opportunities, lack of adequate income support, little opportunity to update basic educational skills, spousal opposition, and a lack of job opportunities following training. These must be addressed.

The pattern of discrimination against members of visible minorities is maintained by many of the same barriers, compounded by a pattern of institutionalized racism that closes doors to good education and training programs and blocks access to good jobs even when access to training is gained. Every training program must ensure fairness and equality.

Training only makes sense when it is part of an economic strategy for full employment, the creation of secure jobs with adequate remuneration, and a labour process that relies on workers' skills.

Education

The labour movement has fought for many years for an educational system that is open to everyone who seeks the skills and knowledge needed to function fully at work, at home, and in the community. Opportunities to upgrade literacy and numeracy skills are an essential part of the training process. Training programs must be carried out in cooperation with public educational institutions. Some of these institutions may have to modify their own structures and approaches, but they are an invaluable resource suited to channeling training in a broader direction, sensitive to the needs of workers as clients, and providing accountability to the public.