Taskforce Part-time Plus (TDP)Taskforce Part-time Plus (TDP)

Conclusions presented to ministers of Conclusions presented to ministers of Social Affairs and Employment / Family Social Affairs and Employment / Family and social partners in March 2010 and social partners in March 2010

Pia Dijkstra & DPia Dijkstra & Désirée van Gorpésirée van Gorp

TDP in briefTDP in brief

Established by cabinet and social partners Established by cabinet and social partners (employers organizations and labor unions).(employers organizations and labor unions).

Operational from March 2008 till March Operational from March 2008 till March 2010.2010.

Goal: cultural change re women joining Goal: cultural change re women joining labor force in bigger part-time jobs.labor force in bigger part-time jobs.

Reason: Dutch women relatively high Reason: Dutch women relatively high employment rate (70%) though in sameller employment rate (70%) though in sameller part-time jobs (<24 hrs p wk). part-time jobs (<24 hrs p wk).

Problem statementProblem statement

Combined with aging population and decline Combined with aging population and decline in babies born - impossible to sustain social in babies born - impossible to sustain social security provisions.security provisions.

Lack of financial independency of women.Lack of financial independency of women. Shortage of availability of employees in Shortage of availability of employees in

typical ‘female jobs’ such as healthcare and typical ‘female jobs’ such as healthcare and education.education.

Barriers to female labor participation Barriers to female labor participation

Contra dictionary legislation and regulations.Contra dictionary legislation and regulations. Social infrastructure lagging behind compared to a Social infrastructure lagging behind compared to a

quick changing society (e.g. opening hours of quick changing society (e.g. opening hours of shops, medical offices and government agencies).shops, medical offices and government agencies).

Static collective schemes applying to dynamic Static collective schemes applying to dynamic employee-employers relationship.employee-employers relationship.

Hard to change traditional culture of society at Hard to change traditional culture of society at large on changing roles of women and men. large on changing roles of women and men.

Recommendations Recommendations Cocktail of measures – shared responsibilities of Cocktail of measures – shared responsibilities of

government, social partners, business community government, social partners, business community and individual men and women.and individual men and women.

CChallenge is no longer to design the right solutions. hallenge is no longer to design the right solutions. Challenge lies in making clear and consistent Challenge lies in making clear and consistent

choices, whereby the principle of high ROI on choices, whereby the principle of high ROI on participation in labor force of individual women must participation in labor force of individual women must be the guide.be the guide.

Solutions tailor made for different target groups who Solutions tailor made for different target groups who jointly share responsibility for increasing labor jointly share responsibility for increasing labor participation of women in bigger part-time (or full-participation of women in bigger part-time (or full-time) jobs. time) jobs.

GovernmentGovernment

Clear legal framework and the right provisions e.g. Clear legal framework and the right provisions e.g. legal right to flexible working hours.legal right to flexible working hours.

Expanding possibilities of paid parental leave.Expanding possibilities of paid parental leave. Fiscal measures should target economic Fiscal measures should target economic

independence of women.independence of women. Improve collective facilities e.g. integrated day-Improve collective facilities e.g. integrated day-

care becomes the norm; child-care available care becomes the norm; child-care available during school holidays.during school holidays.

Businesses, organizations and institutionsBusinesses, organizations and institutions

Strategic HR planning for large and Strategic HR planning for large and especially for SMEs.especially for SMEs.

Tailor made HR policies enabling to Tailor made HR policies enabling to combine different roles and family combine different roles and family responsibilities.responsibilities.

Include life-phase concept in HR policy.Include life-phase concept in HR policy. Output driven evaluation of professional Output driven evaluation of professional

performance.performance.

Social partnersSocial partners

Setting the example in a substantial way.Setting the example in a substantial way. Pro-active and alert attitude towards Pro-active and alert attitude towards

increasing female labor participation.increasing female labor participation. Bridge the gap in salary differences for men Bridge the gap in salary differences for men

and women (despite legal provisions the and women (despite legal provisions the gap still exists in practice).gap still exists in practice).

Individual agreements between employers Individual agreements between employers and employees leading – collective labor and employees leading – collective labor agreements as a safety net.agreements as a safety net.

WomenWomen

Increase economic independence.Increase economic independence. Take on social responsibility in a society in Take on social responsibility in a society in

which women have the luxury of making a which women have the luxury of making a choice for not working.choice for not working.

Clear vision on their choices and Clear vision on their choices and consequences.consequences.

Increase solidarity among women and Increase solidarity among women and mutual support.mutual support.

MenMen

Take on more responsibility for family Take on more responsibility for family duties.duties.

Make use of right on parental leave.Make use of right on parental leave. More awareness about vulnerability of a More awareness about vulnerability of a

(largely) single income family (e.g. financial (largely) single income family (e.g. financial crisis).crisis).

ConclusionConclusion

TDP started out on bring about cultural change – TDP started out on bring about cultural change – bottom up.bottom up.

However, we learned that cultural change is not However, we learned that cultural change is not the start of our journey but rather will be the the start of our journey but rather will be the resultresult of implementing consistently and rapidly existing of implementing consistently and rapidly existing initiatives by all parties involved.initiatives by all parties involved.

Top down – starting with a clear vision and holding Top down – starting with a clear vision and holding involved stake holders responsible for quick involved stake holders responsible for quick implementation.implementation.