We have one of the least generous social security systems of any developed country, and putting cash in families' pockets would boost the economy, say the IPPR and TUC.
As many as one in eight of the early years workforce is paid under £5.00 an hour, whilst the average wage is £7.42 an hour, less than the minimum wage.
Low-paid self-employed workers were unable to shift to home working during lockdown, unlike higher paid freelancers in professional services like consultancy or tutoring.
The National Audit Office has found the take-up of free early education and childcare places and the quality of childcare providers to be lower in the most deprived areas of England.
A working mother has been given permission for a judicial review of Universal Credit childcare provisions after she was forced to reduce her working hours and into debt over childcare costs while on Universal Credit.