it is therefore necessary to devise policies that will bring about changes in the production structure and its orientation so that demandled factors may open the way for a type of growth that is more solidly based on equity with equity being a policy goal in its own right rather than being seen as an addon this will require breaking down major labourmarket entry barriers so that social protection can be combined with labour and economic policies that will provide reliable ongoing funding for integrated service systems labour policy should focus on ensuring that the employment regime incorporates the needs associated with the family life cycle and that employment regulations designed to afford social protection are applied equally to men and women so that women will not be seen as expensive workers by potential employers and so that the hours that women work in the labour market are matched by a positive impact on aggregate demand productivity and growth