Spain: Cutbacks in the field aggravate female unemployment in agriculture
Since 2011 women have destroyed 42,500 jobs in the field and the percentage of total employment in the sector has fallen 26% to 24%. “Women who live and work in rural areas are the main victims of cuts in services and infrastructure in the villages. Without basic care services, can hardly enhance women’s employment in agriculture, “stressed Immaculate Idáñez, head of the Department of Women COAG and President of CERES.
On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Department of Women of the Coordinator of Organizations of Farmers and Ranchers (COAG) and the Confederation of Women in Rural (CERES) denounced the alarming drop employed in the agricultural sector over the past 5 years. In this regard, since COAG and the future government CERES working in different fields to draw attention to the important role of women in the development of rural areas are encouraged. “If the Administration improves the chances of access to health, education and care dependency of rural women, women farmers and livestock contribute to job creation, an issue vital to our peoples in the absence of alternative employment” has Idáñez predicted.
In the last year approved a “Plan for the Promotion of Women of Rural Areas” which has 82 actions to enhance the participation of women in decision-making bodies, into the labor market, promotion of gender-disaggregated statistics, plans for partnerships, promotion of employment and many other aspects such as digital literacy training and institutional agents to prevent and act against gender violence in rural areas. “We appreciate this initiative but criticized the lack of dialogue with organizations representing rural women. If it comes to optimizing public resources is vital to have the opinion of the group to which the actions are aimed to fit the measurements with the real needs,” argued Idáñez.
In addition, COAG and CERES unfortunate consider the refusal of the Autonomous Communities when sub-measures incorporating gender equality in the second pillar of the CAP on rural development measures. COAG and CERES actively participate in the monitoring committees RDP (Rural Development Plans) raising projects with a gender perspective, where conciliation allows the creation of new jobs, where women do not have to live in an eternal resignation and choice between work and personal life.
Work incentives should go beyond the current reduction of 30% of the agricultural social security for the first 5 years of contribution, if you are under 50 years. Given that women over 50 years are also interested in undertaking, it is necessary to address a new approach to land retirement to prevent rural women continue receiving the lowest pension system.
Source: CERES-COAG
