Carers Trust responds to UK Government review of carers' employment rights

Responding to today’s announcement on the UK Government’s review of employment rights for unpaid carers, Carers Trust’s Director of Policy and Public Affairs, Dominic King-Carter, said: 

“We welcome the news that the UK Government is reviewing employment rights for unpaid carers. The introduction of a right to unpaid Carer’s Leave was a step in the right direction. We look forward to working with Government to build on these foundations to better support carers in work to balance their jobs and caring responsibilities.  

“We also welcome the commitment to consult on wider employment support for carers. Our recent research - ‘The hidden cost of unpaid care: the economic price of locking carers out of work.’ - showed that the true economic cost of carers being locked out of paid work is in the billions. Supporting carers who are able and want to work into paid employment is good for their household income, good for the economy and will advance the Government’s growth agenda. 

“Over the next year, we will work closely with the Government to make sure that carers’ voices are at the heart of any future reforms. We want to ensure that carers who are in paid work get the support and flexibility they need, and that carers who want to work are effectively supported back into the paid workforce.”  

Notes to editors 
‘The hidden cost of unpaid care: the economic price of locking carers out of work.’ was commissioned by Carers Trust in partnership with Phoenix Group and the Standard Life Centre for the Future of Retirement. It provides an analysis of unpaid carers partial or total disengagement from paid employment.