Welsh Lib Dems call for more protection for unpaid carers

Today (9th July 2024) in the Senedd, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have called on the Welsh Government to protect unpaid carers.

Speaking to the Siambr on Tuesday, Welsh Lib Dem Leader Jane Dodds MS called for “carer status” to be made a protected characteristic in order to avoid employment discrimination.

There are currently no existing requirements for employers to make reasonable adjustments for unpaid carers in the workplace.

Commenting, the Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said:

“During the recent general election, the Liberal Democrats vowed to transform health and social care by prioritising the interests of our remarkable unpaid carers.

We as the Welsh Liberal Democrats are also as determined as our colleagues in Westminster to deliver this change here in Wales.

These invaluable individuals often feel overlooked by wider society, forced to face hidden challenges, such as in employment, alone.

Currently, there exists no direct requirement for equality monitoring forms to ask if someone has unpaid caring responsibilities. While there also doesn’t exist any direct requirements for employers to make reasonable adjustments for employees with caring duties.

One way in which we can work towards tackling discrimination against our unpaid carers would be through making “carer status” a protected status, helping to foster consistency in support for working carers and obligating employers to provide reasonable adjustments when necessary.

By recognising the millions of unpaid carers who selflessly sacrifice their time to help care for friends and family members in need, we can send a powerful message that we value their contributions to society.”