On Friday 30 August, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) published an analysis which addresses the issues involved in returning to work after parental leave, from the perspective of gender disparities.
According to the data, 56% of women with children under 12 spend at least 5 hours a day looking after their children, compared with only 26% of men.
This increased domestic workload for women would contribute to widening the employment gap, as their employment rate is 10.5 points lower than that of women without children, while that of men increases by 8.2 points when they become fathers.
In view of this, the EIGE estimates that increasing the use of subsidised childcare could improve gender equality in employment by 13%. The document also recommends reviewing the structure of parental leave.
In addition, greater flexibility, accompanied by better financial compensation during parental leave, would contribute to a more equitable sharing of domestic tasks and a reduction in gender stereotypes.
Countries such as Sweden and Portugal have managed to bring the proportion of men taking parental leave closer to 45%, compared with an EU average of 26%.
The EIGE also suggests that Member States carry out gender impact assessments of parental leave policies and run awareness-raising campaigns. Finally, employer support is also considered essential to promote a balance between work and family life.
Analysis: https://aeur.eu/f/das (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)