EUROCHAMBRES Position Paper - 2007 THE RECONCILIATION OF PROFESSIONAL, PRIVATE AND FAMILY LIFE April 2007
SUMMARY OF EUROCHAMBRES POSITION A better reconciliation between professional and family-life: a must for women and men across the Union, if the ambitious growth and jobs targets are to be achieved, and if Europe is to successfully tackle its demographic challenges. We do not see the added value of adopting a common EU legal instrument at this time. The European level should comprise a platform for open discussion and exchange of best practices. Leitmotiv: Reconciliation has to be lived rather than decreed, providing tailor-made solutions that suit all parties concerned INTRODUCTION EUROCHAMBRES welcomes the Commission initiative tackling the question of the reconciliation of professional, private and family life and is pleased to contribute to the works of the European Economic and Social Committee in this respect. The reconciliation of professional, private and family life is one of the main priorities of EUROCHAMBRES Women Network, and the reaction of EUROCHAMBRES to the initiative is done with due consideration to the network s activities. Bearing in mind the overall political objective of higher economic growth and more and better jobs, and against the background of important demographic changes, with an ageing population and dwindling birth rates, the increased participation of women in the economy is vital and must be encouraged strongly. Nevertheless, if the demographic survival of Europe is to be ensured, a higher participation rate of women in employment has to go hand in hand with better reconciliation measures, stimulating a family friendly environment at all levels concerned, from the national down to the company level, actively involving men in the process. In a study carried out in the frame of its Women in Business and in Decision-Making project EUROCHAMBRES Women Network 1 identified the reconciliation between work and family as one of the biggest obstacles for women start-up entrepreneurs, and in the daily running of their companies. Based on the results of the study, EUROCHAMBRES called for the provision of more child care facilities that fit women entrepreneurs needs, including flexible opening hours. At the same time, the network called for a higher involvement of men in the child care process (paternity/ paternal leave promotion). 1 Note: EUROCHAMBRES WOMEN NETWORK (EWN) was initiated in 2002 by permanent female representatives of various European Chambers in Brussels with the aim of addressing interests, issues and priorities of all European Chambers women professionals, women entrepreneurs and women in management. 2
PRACTICAL CHAMBER SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF RECONCILIATION Chambers of Commerce and Industry have a policy interest in this regard, but also act in very concrete ways at grassroots level. While the situation of Chambers in the European Union varies from country to country, many offer practical services towards reconciling professional and family life. For example: Austria: The Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKÖ) has a department dedicated to female entrepreneurship Frau in der Wirtschaft. In the frame of the activities of Frau in der Wirtschaft and with the objective of a better reconciliation between professional and private life, evening classes are organised for women who wish to become entrepreneurs or who wish to improve their entrepreneurial skills, and childcare is organised by the Chamber. Germany: The German Chamber Association (DIHK) is actively involved in the Allianz für Familie, an initiative that aims to provide a sustainable family policy in Germany. Furthermore an increasing number of German Chambers are part of the Lokale Bündnisse für Familie - regional networks that aim to establish family-friendly environments, and thus contributing to a better reconciliation between professional and family life. Besides, in each local Chamber there is a contact person for the subject working environment and family. Italy: In all local Chambers committees for the promotion of female entrepreneurship have been set up, further to a Memorandum of Understanding between Unioncamere (the national Chamber association) and the Ministry of Industry. In the reconciliation field, the committees take care of the dissemination of information and guidance concerning measures for the support of maternity and paternity, for the right to care and training. Besides these initiatives at national level, local Chambers in different European countries have initiated projects that seek to achieve a better reconciliation between professional and private life. Examples can be drawn from the EQUAL database, in which Chamber projects from Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania and Poland can be found. FURTHER ACTION ON RECONCILIATION There is a clear need for further action on reconciliation between professional, private and family life in the European Union. However, the level playing field needed is not at Community level, but at the national, sector and individual enterprise levels. The national level: in those countries where the legal framework for reconciliation is not developed enough yet, measures should be taken rapidly to complete the lacking legal framework and to initiate positive actions on the ground The sector level: where particular conditions for the implementation of reconciliation measures have to be foreseen, sector organisations should promote positive measures with companies and accompany them in the implementation The individual enterprise level: voluntary agreements between employer and employee (m/f) need promoting and enhancing to make sure that tailor-made solutions become available. We cannot see the added value of adopting a common EU legal instrument at this time: work-life balance has to be lived rather than decreed. In this respect, a change in perceptions and working culture is needed, as having a career most often goes in hand with long working hours. 3
Also, a one size fits all approach will not help, as the options for tackling reconciliation issues vary widely between Member Sates, between regions and in some cases from company to company. The Commission s role in this field should be to offer a platform for open discussion and exchange of best practice. Specific comments follow. Working time and flexible working arrangements From a general perspective, all necessary action should be undertaken to increase the level of flexibility to the maximum, to make sure that an efficient reconciliation between working and private life becomes possible. In some countries flexible working arrangements are widespread, while in other countries there is clearly scope for more action. New possibilities offered by information technologies This point is clearly linked to the previous one. Flexible working arrangements imply work from home and/or outside of office hours. While broad information and awareness raising campaigns can contribute to a better understanding and higher take-up of flexible working arrangements, the final decision as to how to implement them lies at enterprise level, and should be decided at an individual level. It should also be noted that flexible working time/arrangements may be easier to implement in large corporations than in small structures (particularly the micro and small enterprises). Availability and quality of childcare and care services for the elderly and other dependants There is a clear need for more care services. These care services should be affordable and meet the requirements of the families (flexible opening hours, opening times during the evening and on weekends for particular sectors like tourism for example). In this respect, the situation of parents with disabled children is particularly critical: parents find themselves limited in their professional life due to the absence of specialised care services, or when there are such car services by the prohibitive costs of the same. From a general perspective, the question of tax deductions for care expenses should be further investigated, as the Member States are advancing at differing speeds to this regard. Leave, including paternity leave and leave to care for an elderly parent or a child or other family member with a disability More should be done in terms of awareness raising for the caring task to be taken up by men and women alike. Nevertheless, as long as there is a pay gap in earnings with women earning less than men, the caring task will more likely be attributed to women. In this field cultural traditions also play an important part, as the caring role is traditionally attributed to women. It requires time and sensitization to change mentalities. Raising public awareness via information and sensitization campaigns at European as well as national level could contribute to a more equal burden sharing. These campaigns should already start at kinder gardens respectively at school and be capitalized appropriately. 4
Reconciliation between professional life and private and family life A better reconciliation between professional, private and family life can be achieved by a successful policy mix. Existing regulations on maternity protection and parental leave should be evaluated on their impact on female labour market participation as well as on the reconciliation question. The use of ICTs can contribute positively to a better reconciliation in many sectors and activities. Nevertheless it has to be taken into account that working arrangements are determined at company level and also depend on the qualifications of the individual. It should also be considered at European as well as at national level - that flexible working arrangements (teleworking or flexible working hours) are not possible in all sectors, and that different solutions have to be considered in those cases. A better reconciliation between professional and family life not only depends on the availability of flexible working conditions/child care facilities. The question is to be considered in a much broader context, including the environment at large, ranging from shop opening hours to the availability of suitable public transport (schedules and child friendly access). Awareness raising campaigns at European as well as at national level can contribute to changing stereotypic mindsets and behaviours, leading to a more equal burden sharing. Community legislation EUROCHAMBRES believes there is no need for change. At Community level, minimum standards are set which can be extended by the Member States at the time of implementation. It is important to create the right framework conditions at European and national levels, yet the principal level playing fields for reconciling professional and family life are the local community and the individual sector/enterprise, as positive measures are to be implemented at that level and lived by the men and women involved. The Commission should provide a platform for open discussion and dissemination of best practice. The costs and benefits of reconciliation measures The reconciliation between professional, private and family life being a dynamic process, it is difficult to assess the right balance between costs and benefits. In the case of childcare (care for other dependants), the facilities should be affordable for the individuals with flexible opening hours. In the case of flexible working arrangements, special grants may be foreseen for companies that are confronted with extra costs due to the conversion from full to part time work. Considering that flexible working arrangements may be a new concept for companies, the provision (financing) of consultancy in this field may be envisaged. Measures to that effect have to be introduced at national/regional/local level. The European level can act as a disseminator for information and guidance. For further information about the position paper: Birgit Arens arens@eurochambres.eu Tel.: +32 2 282 08 57 EUROCHAMBRES CHAMBER HOUSE, AVENUE DES ARTS 19 A/D - 1000 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 5