MSP’s support for grandparents’ cause

A campaign to help working grandparents who also care for their grandchildren is being backed by Neil Bibby MSP.

The Labour MSP for the West of Scotland met with members of USDAW during their recent visit to the Scottish Parliament to hear about their campaign.

Grandparents provide more than 1.7 billion hours of childcare each year and the value of their care to the UK economy has been estimated at £3.9 billion, according to the union.

The charity Grandparents Plus estimate that nearly two million grandparents have reduced their hours, given up a job, or taken time off to care for a grandchild.

USDAW is campaigning for better rights at work for grandparents.

Neil Bibby MSP for West Scotland said: “Around half of all grandparents are still under the pension age and many continue to work beyond that.

“The care grandparents provide is incredibly important for the economy in allowing parents of young families to work, however, more and more grandparents are struggling to juggle looking after grandchildren with going out to work themselves.

“I fully support USDAW’s campaign for increasing rights at work for grandparents with caring responsibilities to ensure that these are properly recognised and considered by employers.”