PRESS RELEASE NO. 16/2020 IG Metall calls for greater support for working parents

Frankfurt am Main – The lack of childcare is jeopardizing the ramp-up of production at numerous companies. “Many parents are desperately telling us that they cannot return to work because they don’t know how to arrange childcare,” reported Christiane Benner, Second Chair of IG Metall, on Friday in Frankfurt. For many parents, this is putting them through an ordeal. Benner therefore called on the federal and state governments to strike a good balance between protecting children’s well-being, the interests of working parents, and infection control. “In this difficult situation, we need creative solutions to ease the burden on working parents,” said Benner. IG Metall also called on employers to support employees in this difficult situation through flexible work schedules and to alleviate financial concerns by increasing short-time work benefits.

Furthermore, financial support for affected parents under the Infection Protection Act must be expanded. “Like short-time work benefits, this wage replacement benefit must be urgently increased and extended. Childcare and working full-time from home simply don’t work—especially with young children. We need flexible solutions for these employees under the Infection Protection Act,” said the second chair of IG Metall. Under certain circumstances, the law allows parents to receive compensation if they are unable to work due to the official closure of schools and childcare facilities. Currently, the compensation amounts to 67 percent of net income, up to a maximum of 2,016 euros. Employees who are able to work from home are excluded from this provision.

In the current situation, there is also a risk that outdated gender roles will resurface. “We must prevent working mothers from bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis and being pushed out of the labor market,” Benner demanded. According to studies by the WZB and WSI, mothers are more likely than fathers to reduce their working hours or, in some cases, stop working altogether. “The COVID-19 crisis is reviving old gender roles. The consequences will not only be felt by women, but will also backfire on society. That is why we need quick and unbureaucratic solutions that benefit both mothers and fathers,” Benner emphasized.

Note to editors:

The WZB and WSI studies mentioned can be found at https://www.wzb.eu/de/pressemitteilung/erwerbsarbeit-in-zeiten-von-corona and https://www.boeckler.de/pdf/pm_hbs_2020_04_21.pdf

Further information and press photos of Christiane Benner