Paid work and unpaid care work reorganised

52% more time

is used on average by women for unpaid care work per day in comparison to men (2012/2013). This difference is called the “Gender Care Gap”.

Two thirds

of all people in need of care in private households are primarily nursed by a woman (2018).

54% of children

under the age of three have full-time day care places; 30% have extended part-time places (2017).

41% of fathers

received Parental Allowance (for children born in the 3rd quarter in 2017).

Our goal: Making paid work and unpaid care work reconcilable

Women still do the predominant part of unpaid care work. This unequal distribution of care work impedes the equal participation of women and men in gainful employment. This needs to change. Everyone has to be able to reconcile unpaid care work with their own gainful employment, as it is only through such employment that people can gain economic independence, particularly with regard to advanced age. And only through a new distribution of unpaid care work and gainful employment will everyone have sufficient time for self-care, free time and leisure. In addition, more care work also opens up new options for men to organise their lives.

What we want to achieve:

A broad infrastructure, which is flexible and accessible to all, with high-quality and needs-oriented offers, regarding both the care and education of children, as well as caring for care-dependant people. Furthermore, there will need to be offers for professional services close to home.
People who temporarily take care or have taken care of children or family members should be able to further their careers and flexibly change between gainful employment and unpaid care work.
Parenthood and care work should be taken into account in working life from the beginning.

Our measures: How a fair division of gainful employment and unpaid care work can be achieved

Act on Good Early Childhood Education and Care (“Gute-KiTa-Gesetz”)
All-day care at primary schools
Supporting use of household services
Improving the Parental Allowance

Further measures

“Success Factor Family”, a programme for businesses and industry
Review and improve the support of family care for elderly people
Mobility and broadband in rural areas