On Tuesday 24 March, the European Parliament’s Committees on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) and on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) jointly adopted the draft report on gender inequalities in the care sector by 60 votes to 8 with 12 abstentions.
The 38 compromise amendments were adopted.
While demographic changes are leading to an increase in needs in an area where women are in the majority, the text by Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greek) and Rosa Estaràs Ferragut (EPP, Spanish) points out that this imbalance is not without consequences for their participation in the labour market and their professional lives.
They call on the Member States to enable a more equitable sharing of care through more accessible and affordable care services, as well as by promoting the use of parental leave and more flexible working arrangements. They also call for awareness-raising campaigns for the greater involvement of men.
The report supports an evaluation based on actual results and on the recognition of care work – whether formal or informal – particularly as regards social protection and retirement. The text also calls for improved working conditions in this sector, which is affected by job insecurity.
With regard to people working in the care sector – who are also non-Europeans –the MEPs discuss a framework for immigration based on the needs of the labour market and guarantees in terms of rights, training and integration.
The text will be put to the vote at the plenary session in April, in Strasbourg.
The report: https://aeur.eu/f/lbl
Compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/lbi (Original version in French by Nithya Paquiry)