Sharing and balancing life-work responsibilities

Public investment in women care giving role

Czech Republic

Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

Gender Equality Unit

Lucia Zachariášová

General remarks

• Gender Equality Unit (Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs)• Coordination and preparation of strategies of the government

gender policy

• Secretariat of Government Council for Equal Opportunities of Women and Men and its committees and working group

• Balancing work, private and family life• important for other areas within gender policy such as:

o higher participation of women in decision-making positionso strengthening economic independence of women o combating violence against womeno etc.

Adoption of Antidiscrimination Act

• Effective from 2009• General law prohibiting discrimination

• including gender as one of the discrimination grounds

• Areas covered by Antidiscrimination Act• Employment

• Entrepreneurship

• Social Security

• etc.

• Above mentioned areas are closely linked to solutions for balancing work, private and family life

• Government Council for Equal Opportunities of Women and Men • advisory body of the Government established in 2001

• Committee for Balancing Work, Private and Family Life• established in 2009

• preparation of proposals, recommendations and initiatives for the Council (than it may be submitted to the Government)

• two main areas

1.) child-care services (especially pre-school age children)

2.) flexible working arrangements

• Members: public administration, employers’ associations, trade unions or representatives of NGOs

• Crucial is membership of representatives of NGOs (for example Network of Mother Centers).

Committee for Balancing Work, Private and Family Life of the Government Council for Equal Opportunities of Women and Men

Network of Mother Centers(http://www.materska-centra.cz/)

• First Mother Center established in 1992• Network of Mother Centers founded in 2002, more that 300

Mother Centers• Contributions of Mother Centers:

• strengthening self-confidence of mothers

• emphasis to active citizenship, influence social development and political decisions

• child-care (meet the demand in the Czech Republic)

• building of caring community and solidarity

• open for all social classes, races, refugees and many others

• focusing on different groups, including employers and employees

• Membership in international subjects • GROOTS International (from 1999)

• partnered with the Huairou Commission

• initiated the establishment of MINE

Working Group Men and Gender Equality of the Government Council for Equal Opportunities of Women and Men

• Established in 2012

• One of the topics: men and care giving

• Members• state administration

• academia

• representatives of NGOs (for example The League of Open Men)

How To, Dad?Project of Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

(http://www.tatojaknato.cz/)

• Implemented in 2010 and 2011

• Main objectives • increase the number of men actively involved in parenthood

• show men what they personally gain from parenthood

• promote the value of fatherhood

• fighting a discrimination of women in the labour market

• balancing work and family life

• encourage employers and society to spend more time thinking about fathers

• Activities• qualitative and quantitative survey

• media campaign

• conferences of experts

• Media campaign focused on married, single, divorced, biological or adoptive fathers, experienced father as well as beginners

• Counterbalance to the negative images of fatherhood in society and media

• Capacity of child-care services reduced due to demographic changes

• New institute of so called child group • alternative to other types of child-care services

• established and operated (usually) by employers for their employees

• less strict standards

• Tax deduction for employers who establish a child group for their employees - motivation for employers

• Strengthen social responsibility and solidarity of employers• Strengthen higher loyalty of employees and positive working

environment • Influence return and position of women on the labour market

after parental leave• Pilot project of child group in the Ministry of Labour and

Social Affairs – good example for public administration and employers

„Child Group“Legislative proposal of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs

• Care giving role is an important part of lives of both, women and men

• Direct line between care giving role and balancing work, private and family life

• Balancing work, private and family life enable women to develop care giving role and at the same time pursue their professional needs and ambitions (they don't need to choose)

• Sharing of care giving role between women and men and involvement of men is important

• Cooperation of state administration and NGOs is important

• Overcoming gender stereotypes

Conclusions

Thank you for your attention.

lucia.zachariasova@mpsv.cz+420 221 923 487+420 777 467 571

Gender Equality Unit

Section of the Deputy Minister for Social Inclusion and Equal Opportunities

Ministry of Labour and Social AffairsNa Poříčním právu 1

128 01 Prague 2