No, this ban is actually empowering to these women.
  If they cannot access the services specially welfare etc. those men who don't provide for the women but tell them to cover up their faces while accessing the services, would have to rethink their stance.
   They can't have their cake and eat it too.
If those men want the government money, they need to obey the government laws like the rest of the population.
    This further oppression argument is hogwash.
I say it again, there is nothing Islamic and religious about covering a woman' face. 
   Just an excuse by male Muslim Imams, white guilt-ridden feminists to cover up for an oppressive Arab cultural practice.
   I know as I come from that part of the world.
The 'educated' Muslim women who 'like' to go niqabbed are just trying to stick it to the West and laughing at us behind those burkas at our naivete.