Four National Women's Groups: CCLOW · CFWEC · CRIAW · NOIVMWC

Another proposal in the Green Paper, linking UI eligibility to family income rather than individual income, will also have a negative effect for women. Because women already earn less in the paid labour force than men, we are more likely to be the ones who will have UI benefits cuts under this scheme. This will tend to increase women's economic dependence on men. Among other implications, this means that more women will be forced to stay in abusive relationships for economic reasons.

The Federal Government must recognize that, in some communities, notably those affected by seasonal employment, such as Atlantic Canada, or certain rural or remote communities, the Unemployment Insurance system plays a central role in community sustainability. It would be devastating to abruptly and significantly revamp UI without first setting in place other appropriate income maintenance and/or employment programs.

"Non-standard" forms of work constituted 44% of the employment growth in the 1980's. Over half of all adult women in the paid labour force in Canada do not have permanent jobs, especially full-time, full-year jobs.

In the March, 1994 issue of the Canadian Economic Observer, a Statistics Canada study showed that a greater proportion of workers are now losing their jobs on a permanent basis. During the 1990-92 recession, 71 % of all layoffs were permanent.