Women, on average, earn only 64 per cent of men's wages, so most women's pension benefits will be much lower than men's. Another problem is that workers who take time out of the labour force will reduce their future pension benefits. While workers are allowed time out to care for young children there are no allowances for care of elderly or disabled family members. It is usually women who drop out of the labour force to provide such family care. Women who are full-time homemakers must depend on their partners for pension benefits.
Women are more likely than men to be underemployed.
Women work in areas where part-time employment and tech change layoffs are fairly common. Time out of the workforce hurts the pensions of men and women, but women are more likely to be in a position to suffer such penalties. Labour leader J.S. Woodsworth brings pressure to the minority Liberal government to pass the Pensions Act which grants a small pension to the elderly poor in Canada. Native Indians and non-British immigrants are not eligible. 1951 Old age Security is introduced.