Financial Incentives

In the General Industrial Training Program (GIT) employers are reimbursed for 75% of any wages paid to women in on the-job training. This incentive did not appear to have much effect in 1982-83, when the female participation rates declined in all categories of the GIT and CTST programs.

Recommendation:

That training allowances be realigned to realistically reflect women's needs, i.e. grants should not be based on family income and should permit women to be paid full-time students

Women's Employment Coordinators

The Regional Women's Co-ordinator is restricted by a job description that would keep an office of forty busy full time, no budget, no staff and no official status within CEIC. She/ he can be pointed to as the person "responsible for" women and women's issues. But in fact, she/he is virtually powerless.

Recommendation:

That the position of Regional Women's Employment Co-ordinator be elevated to one with direct access to decision making power and authority.

Labour Market Needs Committee

In each province there is a Labour Market Needs Committee consisting of those representatives from federal and provincial governments concerned most closely with labour and training. The make-up of this committee varies from province to province. It is at this level of decision-making that issues concerning women are considered often without adequate representation from women. The policies and actions of these committees have a strong influence on the manner and spirit in which the National Training act is administered in each province.

Recommendation:

That equal representation of women be ensured on the Labour Market Needs Committee in each province

Sex-role Stereotyping

One of the reasons women do not clamour for non-traditional jobs and counsellors do not encourage them to do so is sex-role stereotyping. Sex-role stereotyping is taught to cry both sexes almost from the moment of birth. Women will not begin to explore their full potential as workers and men will not encourage or even allow them to do so, as long as both men and women are socialized to believe that women cannot do or be certain things because of their gender.

Programs and policies handed down from above, even those containing strong affirmative action directives, have a poor chance of success if they are administered by men and women who have been taught that girls are less; boys are more

Sex-role stereotyping is a problem that needs to be seen as the basis for a system that allows men to earn nearly twice as much as women, and prevents women from seeking work or job training in a wide range of occupations.

Recommendation:

That a comprehensive, national public relations/advertising campaign be undertaken promotion both the program and women's participation in it and non-traditional jobs.