Annette Angermann

Observatory for Sociopolitical Developments in Europe(German Association for Public and Private Welfare)

«Los servicios a la persona y la conciliacón trabajo y familia y la asistencia a las personas dependientes»

Observatory for Sociopolitical Developments in EuropeCooperation project of the German Association for Public and Private Welfare, the Institute for Social Work and Social Education and the Federal Ministry for

Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Observatory analyzes sociopolitical trends, compares different EU Member States as well as the European level, combined with the

question of what repercussions they have on the situation in Germany (mainly focusing on the policy fields Demographic

Change and Volunteering)

MISSION: to be an intermediary between the German and European level

Reconciliation of Family/Care and Work

- there are currently 19 million informal caregivers in Europe

- half of caregiving relatives are employed

thus forced to depend on general framework allowing them to combine their work and their caregiving better

3 types of care:

- informal/family care

- professional care

- co-operative care (informal and professional care)

service-based care arrangements prevalent in northern Europe

family-based care arrangements common in conservative and southern european states

Reconciliation of Family/Care and Work on European Level –Relevant EU Policies for Caregivers

EU policies and their relevance for caregivers: - Lisbon Strategy and Open Method of Co-Ordination-> sustainability of long-term care depends on contribution of family carers- 2007 Minister of Employment and Social Affairs meeting endorsed support for informal care as a top priority, Eurocarers (EU wide network) and a family carers special interest group of the European Parliament were launched- amongst others: European Employment Strategy, pension debate, social (and health) care services of general interest, prevention and active ageing, new technologies (e-inclusion, e-care, e-health)...- in the Resolution on the role of women in an ageing society (7.09.2010), the European Parliament explicitly favours the introduction of caregivers leave model

Reconciliation in the Member States of the EU – National programmes and measures 2 basic types of caregiver leave models: - short-term leave in 25 member states, employees have the right to stay away from work to care for relatives for short periods of time (a few days to several weeks)- long-term leave exist in Austria, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Ireland and Spain (from a few weeks to two years)

- Belgium: caregiver model allows leave up to 12 month (or working time reduction for 24 month) if a family member is seriously ill-> salary is to be paid- Ireland: offers a variety of forms and possible combination on support caregiving relatives (e.g. for the benefit of part-time employees)- Spain: possibility of taking up to two years’ leave-> unpaid

Reconciliation of Family/Care and Work – Challenges and Opportunities

Possibilities:

- take women out of the labour market to support informal care

- integrate more women into labour market to give them the chance to afford professional care

create general framework for freedom of choice

combination of different elements: models providing time for the tasks of care (with financial coverage) & infrastructure (on public, private and enterprise level)

only if informal and professional care co-operate, that means all possibilities for care are fully used, we are able to face the demographic challenges.

Thank you very much for your attention!

Annette AngermannObservatory for Sociopolitical Developments in Europe

German Association for Public and Private Welfare

Berlin/Germany

angermann@deutscher-verein.de