Ruth Kelly, the communuties secretary, is going to introduce a government package which aims at helping millions of working mothers improve pay and conditions.
The ex-journalist, shot up in the cabinet in 2005 whilst raising four children. She has promised to generate more high-status jobs for women who wish to work part-time and also be with their family .
Elevating women's roles at work and enabling them to attain better jobs is worth up to £23bn p.a. to the economy.
80 big companies are to sign up to become "model employers", committing themselves to allowing women returning to work after bringing up children the chance to get good jobs as well as to sign up for part-time or flexible working.
Companies that have signed up to this scheme include BP, Accenture, BAE Systems, Centrica and BT .
The government has also put £500,000 in a fund to encourage job shares amongst the companies' senior management.
It is difficult balancing professional and family commitments. If a woman wants to do fewer hours, it should not mean she has to trade down her job status.
She is also to set out new details regarding the women and work sector pathways project. This costs £10m over two years and provides low-skilled women A-level-standard training. There is also going to be a duty for public sector employers to ensure equal pay and opportunities for both genders.
