Childcare undervalued. Sex work rights. Free contraceptives.

This week, Tarla Lambert-Patel received an email from the childcare centre her kids go to. They informed parents the centre would not be accepting the federal government’s 15 per cent wage increase for staff, and instead would be offsetting costs back onto parents. So, what is stopping them from taking up the government’s funding? Tarla joins Angela Priestley to discuss more.Also this week, we look at the new laws in Belgium giving greater employment rights for sex workers, and what it means for the industry in Australia. Plus: The Greens have unveiled a policy that would make contraceptives free for women. Will the policy ever see the light of day?Stories discussed this week:‘Rise together’: New women’s investment fund launches with $100m committed‘The consequences are existential’: Women leading the way at the ICJ climate change hearings‘Not the right fit’: A glaring gap in the government’s policy to increase the pay of early childhood educatorsWhat if we valued women working in childcare like men working in constructionSex workers in Belgium have more working rights than ever. Could we see similar laws in Australia?The Greens unveil new policy to make contraceptives free for women. Could we see it in action?The Women's Agenda Podcast is produced by Agenda Media, the 100% women-founded and owned media business, publishing the daily news publication Women’s Agenda. Producers: Olivia Cleal and Allison Ho Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.