Implementation of Maternity Benefit Act

Women’s ties with pregnancy and child rearing and the failure of employers and policymakers to deal consistently with this issue exacerbate the difficulties women face in the economy. Women continue to have the primary responsibility for housework and childcare, even when they have extremely demanding jobs. Few employers provide help with childcare, flexible work hours to accommodate children’s needs, or paid maternity leaves. Women in blue-collar work as well as clerical jobs face rigid time schedules, low pay, and virtually no recognition or help from employers for Implementation of Maternity Benefit Act their family responsibilities (Ferree, 1987). Professional women, although better paid, also face these problems.