Krakow, 21/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday and Friday, European gender equality, family and employment ministers have been debating something that is daily fare for many of us: the delicate balance between family life and work. “Against a background of demographic challenges and economic crisis, we have to identify the best way to achieve this balance”, said Polish minister Jolanta Fedak.
The basis for discussion will be assessment of how the Beijing Platform is being implemented, with priority given to the economic repercussions of missing the crucial work-life balance. The European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) has prepared a report “Women and the Economy: Mechanisms for reconciling professional and family roles for women and men as a chance to actively participate in the labour market”.
In Europe, women aged between 25 and 44 spend three times as much time looking after their children as men. The EIGE findings reveal that legislation is succeeding in reversing this trend. The report says that in a number of member states, laws have given fathers' an increased role looking after their children. It says, too, that there have been improvements in the availability and access to childminding services. (VW/transl.rt)