PRESS RELEASE NO. 09/2020 Survey on International Women’s Day: Lack of Childcare Spots Limits Employment

Frankfurt am Main – The availability of daycare spots in Germany remains insufficient. This was revealed by a representative forsa survey commissioned by IG Metall on the occasion of International Women’s Day on March 8. Twenty-six percent of the mothers and fathers surveyed stated that the assigned daycare spot limited their ability to work because the hours were too short or the commute was too long. Twenty-one percent of parents said they were only able to return to work later than planned due to a lack of childcare options. “The insufficient number of daycare spots severely impairs parents’ job prospects,” criticized Christiane Benner, vice chair of IG Metall, on Friday in Frankfurt. “Local governments must finally ensure that sufficient daycare spots are available. And employers must do more to support employees in balancing child-rearing and work.” The legal right to a daycare spot for children aged one to three was introduced in 2013. Nevertheless, there is still a shortage of over 300,000 childcare spots nationwide.

Nearly 20 percent of those surveyed complained that the process for applying for a daycare spot is too complicated. “The allocation systems for childcare spots in local municipalities must be standardized. This would lead to greater transparency and predictability for parents,” said Benner. IG Metall supports its members with a parent’s guide that includes sample applications and checklists. This assistance is intended to make it easier for them to exercise and enforce their legal right.

Eighty percent of respondents believe it is important for fathers and mothers to be able to temporarily reduce their weekly working hours. In a similar survey six years ago, that figure was 71 percent. “This survey result confirms that we are on the right track with the collective bargaining agreement we concluded two years ago in the metal and electrical industries. We’re shaping collective bargaining policy in step with the times,” Benner emphasized. This year, 340,000 employees who care for children, provide care for family members, or work shifts will convert their collective bargaining bonus into eight additional days off. Of these, 79,000 mothers and fathers are taking advantage of this option—that’s 24,000 more parents than in 2019.

Further information and press photos of Christiane Benner

Further information