WOMEN are still swimming against the tide on employment rights, according to MSPs who are calling on the Government to provide better childcare and more flexible jobs.

A statutory right to childcare, guaranteed access to more flexible and part-time jobs and other measures are needed, according to a report from Holyrood's Equal Opportunities Committee.

It follows an investigation of the issue and argues a profound change in childcare structure and entitlement is needed. Key recommendations are that the Scottish Government should adopt good practice in making jobs available on a part-time or flexible terms which help women rejoin the workplace, and then encourage other public sector employers to also do so.

The report also has a huge swipe at the "growing abuse" of zero-hours contracts "where the flexibility rests with the employer and not the employee", calling these utterly unacceptable.

The report states: "The childcare system's "impact on parental, particularly women's employment, is vital if Scotland is to make any progress on issues such as flexible working and occupational segregation."

Equal opportunities convener Mary Fee MSP said: "Despite the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975, women are still swimming against the tide and we continue to address persistent inequality between the sexes.

"Childcare is at the heart of this, together with the outdated presumption that women alone will shoulder the greatest responsibility for that childcare and the knock-on effect that has on women and work."

"This is why we are asking the Scottish Government to outline a timetable for the introduction of a statutory right to childcare, including older and disabled children.

"On a practical and immediate basis, we believe there is a clear leadership role for the public sector and all jobs in the Scottish Government's direct control should be advertised as suitable for flexible working or part-time basis."

The report made recommendation for schools and apprenticeship schemes, calling for gender imbalances to be addressed. It said: "Schools are clearly an influence on occupational segregation at a crucial stage and although they cannot be expected to solve the issue, the committee agrees sector representatives from industry could be brought into schools to enhance careers advice."

The report also wanted occupational segregation in modern apprenticeships to be addressed.