A Dutch approach for reconciliation between work and family life: Taskforce Part-Time Plus Suzan Aafjes, Msc Policy advisor Taskforce Part-Time Plus Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment 9 October 2009

Labour participation of working woman

Labour participation of women

64 62 60 58 56 54 52 50 48 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

year

gross labour participation net labour participation rate

Labour participation of working woman

Pros of Part-time work:

•Better individual work-life balance •Growing labour participation of women •Equal rights with full time workers •Flexibility for employers and employees

However…

• Calculations of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment show that of the 5.4 billion working hours available for the labour market, 75% can be obtained by women.

• Among part-time working women, still 1.9 billion working hours for the labour market can be gained.

More working woman

• Economic independence. • More women should participate in the labour market: ‘(more) hours working should be financially profitable’ - Income dependent labour premium (IAK) - Income dependent combination premium (IACK) - Childcare premium (Law of childcare)

What’s the aim of the Taskforce Part-time Plus?

Stimulate woman to increase the number of hours they work

How?

Research Debate Internettool Communication Pilots

Pilots in companies and organisations

Research shows that Dutch women would like to work more hours a week than they currently do (SCP):   70% of the woman when offered possibilities to work at home; 85% of the woman when offered flexible workingtime arrangements (OSA).

First choice working parents to improve work-family balance (2009)

•Working at home •Flexible working hours •Childcare •Incidental leave •School hours •Parental leave •Other

www.taskforce-deeltijdplus.nl

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