Nationwide, there is a shortage of over 300,000 childcare spots—despite a legal entitlement to them. A representative Forsa survey commissioned by IG Metall now shows that one in five parents returns to work later than planned because a daycare spot was not available in time. Christiane Benner, Second Chair of IG Metall, criticizes: “The insufficient supply of daycare spots severely impairs parents’ job prospects.”
In the survey conducted on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8, 26 percent of the mothers and fathers surveyed also stated that the assigned daycare spot significantly limits their ability to work—for example, because the daycare’s hours are inconvenient or the commute is long. About one in five parents complained that applying for a daycare spot is too complicated. “The allocation systems for childcare spots in the municipalities must be standardized,” says Benner. “That would lead to greater transparency and predictability for parents.”
Support for IG Metall Members
We at IG Metall have advocated for the legal right to a daycare spot and support our members with a parent’s guide containing sample applications and checklists. This assistance is intended to make it easier for them to exercise and enforce their legal right. The legal right to a daycare spot for children aged one to three was introduced in 2013.
“Local governments must finally ensure that sufficient daycare spots are available,” emphasizes Christiane Benner. “And employers must do more to support employees in balancing child-rearing and work.”
IG Metall works council members are familiar with these issues and have secured benefits for parents in many companies. These include, for example, company-run childcare facilities or reserved spots at other facilities.
For Family-Friendly Work Schedules
Enabling a balance between work and private life is a central concern for IG Metall. Respondents to the survey consider the following measures particularly important for promoting women in the workforce (multiple answers allowed):
- Work-from-home options (85 percent)
- Family-friendly work schedules for mothers and fathers (83 percent)
- Better childcare (81 percent)
- The option for mothers and fathers to temporarily reduce their weekly working hours (80 percent)
- More part-time opportunities for mothers and fathers (78 percent)
- More effective government support for families (74 percent)
The results show that IG Metall is on the right track with its collective bargaining policies. Since the last collective bargaining agreement in the metal and electrical industry in 2018, parents have been able to temporarily reduce their working hours and have the option to convert a collective bargaining bonus into additional days off.
