Labor Minister: Those who employ mothers get CZK 1,500

Petr Holub and Naďa Straková
11. 7. 2008 15:15
The package is to create part-time job opportunites
Biological clock ticking may be a decisive factor for women (and men). Minister Petr Nečas
Biological clock ticking may be a decisive factor for women (and men). Minister Petr Nečas | Foto: Ludvík Hradilek

Prague - With the demographic outlooks not looking very favorable for Czechs, Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Petr Nečas decided to help to make it easier for young women who oscillate between having a family and pursuing a career.

Minister Nečas would like to create job opportunities for mothers with small children who would like to work but cannot find an employer. Through the extension of job opportunities Minister Nečas would like to put back a sizeable number of women into a labor market.

Part of his motivation is also to change the current system that makes mothers stay home with children up to for three years.

Nečas offers CZK 1,500 government allowance to any company that employs a mother with small children.

Out of 350,000 Czech mothers who stay at home with their kids, Minister Nečas believes a solid number of them would like to work, at least part-time, if allowed.

Not only mothers

"We would like to create part-time job opportunities for people who cannot work full-time for some reason. These are for example parents with kids under 10, people who take care of a person that is dependent on them, physically or mentally handicapped people and people above 55 years of age."

The job enhancement package is to include support of companies´ kindergartens and other alternative models of child care. At the moment it is city hall and municipality authorities that decide about building extra kindergartens.

But with the recent rise in the birth rate being only temporary, as believed by sociologists and Minister Nečas, the city halls are hesitant to invest in buidling more kindergartens due to the estimated outflow of kids in the future. 

Doors ajar

The old fashioned perception of women as breeders and household tenders is not correct, argues Minister Nečas, himself a practicing Catholic, adding it should be primarily the woman's free choice how to combine work and family duties. She should have all the doors kept ajar and decide if to stay home or work.

"On the other hand, mothers who stay at home until their kids enter kindergarten become semi-parasites and we have to force them out to work," believes Minister Nečas

The scheme is expected to be ready by September and should take effect by mid-year 2009.

 

Právě se děje

Další zprávy