24-06-2021
There is much to be gained from gender equality. An equal position on the labor market strengthens the economic independence of women and thus the entire economy. An important factor for the participation of women is an equal division of work and care. Women, especially in a financially vulnerable situation, who want to make a step towards (more and/or better) paid work and thus towards economic independence, experience various obstacles when combining work and care responsibilities. The Dutch government has a role to play in this, by making it easier to combine care and work.
That is why Ditwerktwel.nl calls on the new cabinet to include the following ingredients in the coalition agreement, so that everyone can realize their own work-care division.
1. Leave arrangements equal for mothers and partners, both in terms of payment and in number of weeks It is important that leave arrangements for partners, just like those for mothers, are paid 100 percent. Make sure that arrangements are an option for everyone and do not depend on whether you can miss income or receive a possible supplement from the employer.
2. Childcare that is good, (almost) free, without hassle and accessible to all children Abolish the current complex childcare allowance system and invest in good, development-oriented, (almost) free childcare without hassle that is for all parents is available.
3. An inclusive and care-friendly (personnel) policy at the government The government itself is an employer and therefore has the responsibility and options for arranging birth leave and leave options for informal care and actively discussing it with its employees.
4. Social security and better work/care distribution for women working in care and childcare Care professionals, the vast majority of whom are women, regularly leave salaried employment and return to flexible employment or as a self-employed person. Childcare is also a highly cyclical sector. Bet on the revision of the system and focus on a reduced workload, better pay and career opportunities.
5. Require employers to be transparent about pay differences Women still earn 14 percent less per hour than men. That equates to €300,000 in a working life. 1 in 3 couples are still prevented from their ideal work-care division due to financial reasons. The government should oblige employers to be transparent about wage differences.
6. Abolish the Home Services Regulation The Home Services Regulation regulates the employment relationship between private individuals and domestic workers, 91% of whom are women. Abolish the Scheme, classify domestic work as real work, which is rewarded and offers social rights.
Ditwerktwel.nl is an initiative of 5 social organizations that reinforce each other on content and expertise: WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform, WOMEN Inc, Bureau Clara Wichmann, Movisie and the Dutch Women's Council. Together we strive for a society in which women and men actually have equal opportunities to combine paid work and unpaid care.
Download the complete list
here. (In Dutch)
