The increase in the average employment rate of parents, especially single parents, requires measures to support families.

The increase in the average employment rate of parents, especially single parents, requires measures to support families.

Supplementary benefits or specific allowances are provided in certain cases: if the parent/guardian is raising a child alone (for example the 'extra' allowances in Denmark, or the single/sole parent allowance in France and in Sweden); in the case of children with disabilities (Denmark, Greece, Spain, France, Netherlands, Austria and Portugal); in the case of families with many children (Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Austria); in the case of multiple births (Spain, France, Ireland, Finland and Sweden, where an extension of the pe ...[+++]riod covered is also provided); in order to help low-income families with at least three children (the family supplement in France and Ireland).

Since having children and helping relatives is not unemployment, AFEAS asks that the government first render eligible for employment insurance program benefits any person who performs the role of parent or helper, regardless of his or her status as a paid employee, self-employed worker, student or person in the home; increase maximum insurable earnings to the level that will be used by the Quebec parental insurance plan in 2006, that is to say $57,500, since the current level of $39,000 is very low and has not been increased in a very long time; review benefits granted at t ...[+++]he birth or adoption of a child so that parents receive replacement income at a minimum rate of 70 percent of insurable earnings, without a qualifying period; provide, for parents, 15 weeks of maternity benefits, five weeks of non-transferable paternity benefits — so that only fathers can use them — and 35 weeks of parental or adoption benefits shareable between both parents, which already exists; pay a minimum, universal weekly benefit to mothers and fathers on the birth or adoption of a child over the number of weeks during which they are not eligible for maternity, paternity, parental or adoption benefits.

Against this relatively favourable background in the EU context, the UK labour market continues to display a significant share of young people, especially males, out of work or education, persistent pockets of long-term unemployment and/or inactivity among older people, ethnic minorities, lone parents and deprived communities, and low average labour productivity.

The Community's support for this programme amounts to ECU 7.70 million (#6.40 million) from the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. The EU support under URBAN to this area has been given in recognition of its special problems. Crime, deprivation, low levels of educational achievement are constant features of the area. The average rate of unemployment in the Park Royal Urban Community area is 19% compared to a Greater London rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate for the target estates is 22.2%. Over 40% of the unemployed people in the area are ethnic minorities. The programme aims to ensure that residents in We ...[+++]st London's most deprived neighbourhoods are part of a wider process of economic regeneration, in particular, on the Park Royal industrial estates. The programme will focus on those who are excluded from the labour market or are at risk of exclusion, in particular - young people, those from ethnic minority groups, women returners, lone parents, the disabled, those suffering ill-health, refugees and the long-term unemployed.