The labour market The labour market situation of women being situation of women being

on childcare on childcare leave in Hungaryleave in Hungary

Special difficulties in access to Special difficulties in access to labour marketlabour market

Joint ECE/ILO/Eurostat Seminar on Quality Joint ECE/ILO/Eurostat Seminar on Quality of Work, 11-13 May 2005, Genevaof Work, 11-13 May 2005, Geneva

ContentContent

Brief history of women’s employment and Brief history of women’s employment and the childcare systemthe childcare system

The labour market exclusion of child-raising The labour market exclusion of child-raising women in the 2000s, women in the 2000s,

Main factors of the disadvantageous Main factors of the disadvantageous position of childposition of child--raising women and steps to raising women and steps to improve theimprove theirir employability employability

ConclusionsConclusions

Brief history of women’s Brief history of women’s employment and the childcare employment and the childcare

systemsystem Labour shortage in the 50Labour shortage in the 50ss - increasing women - increasing women

employment rate, short maternity leave, wide and employment rate, short maternity leave, wide and adaptable network of childcare institutionsadaptable network of childcare institutions

Demographical peak , lack of childcare institutions - the Demographical peak , lack of childcare institutions - the childcare allowance was introduced at the end of 60-ies childcare allowance was introduced at the end of 60-ies (low fix sum for one year)(low fix sum for one year)

In theIn the 70s t 70s the duration of the childcare allowance period he duration of the childcare allowance period waswas extended to 3 yearsextended to 3 years

In 1982 the childcare fee was introduced (wage In 1982 the childcare fee was introduced (wage depending fee for the first period of the childcare leave)depending fee for the first period of the childcare leave)

At the beginning of 90s every 5th workplace At the beginning of 90s every 5th workplace disappeareddisappeared-- women with small children became less women with small children became less employable groupemployable group

In 1993 as part of the „Social law” the child-raising In 1993 as part of the „Social law” the child-raising benefit was introduced (motherhood as a main job)benefit was introduced (motherhood as a main job)

In 1996 allowances became mean-testedIn 1996 allowances became mean-tested ( (tilltill 1998), 1998), but but the employment criterion was cancelledthe employment criterion was cancelled

The main characteristics of the The main characteristics of the existing childcare systemexisting childcare system

Type Duration Remuneration Eligibility criterions

Maternity leave

24 weeks 75% of the former salary

Mother was employed (covered by social security) before childbirth

Child-care fee

Till the child turns 2

75% of the former salary (but maximum twice as much as the minimum wage)

Mother was employed (covered by social security) before childbirth

Child-care allowance

Till the child turns 3

75% of the minimum old age pension

Any parents or grandparents under given circumstances

Child-raising benefit

Till the youngest child turns 8

75% of the minimum old age pension

Parents with at least 3 children between 3-18

The presence of child-raising The presence of child-raising women on the labour market in women on the labour market in

the 2000sthe 2000s Increasing % of young mothers stay atIncreasing % of young mothers stay at

home for the whole childcare period home for the whole childcare period and even afterand even after

Parallel with the increasing number of Parallel with the increasing number of children in the family decreasing children in the family decreasing labour market participation of motherlabour market participation of motherss

Positive exceptionPositive exception:: mothers with higher mothers with higher educationeducation

Main factors of the disadvantageous position Main factors of the disadvantageous position of childof child--raising women and steps to improve raising women and steps to improve

their employabilitytheir employabilityFactors:Factors:

During the long maternity leaveDuring the long maternity leave thethe connection connection with the employer gets loose or even terminateswith the employer gets loose or even terminates

The knowledge becomeThe knowledge becomess outdated outdated Less flexibility in connection with workLess flexibility in connection with work

circumstances (e.g. overtime, shift workcircumstances (e.g. overtime, shift work, , working working at the weekendat the weekendss, long distance), long distance)

Frequent absence from work due to care of sick Frequent absence from work due to care of sick childchild

Low chance to find suitable workplace (part time Low chance to find suitable workplace (part time work, distance work, flexiwork, distance work, flexi--time)time)

Insufficient supplementary effect between value Insufficient supplementary effect between value of housework and the take home payof housework and the take home pay

Steps to improve Steps to improve employabilityemployability

Free education or labour marketFree education or labour market training for parents on childcare leavetraining for parents on childcare leave

Expanding eligibility for work in the Expanding eligibility for work in the childcare leave periodchildcare leave period

Subsidies for employer in case of Subsidies for employer in case of employment after childcare periodemployment after childcare period

A special award for the so called A special award for the so called family friendly workplacefamily friendly workplace

ConclusionConclusionss

Real improvement: labour intensive Real improvement: labour intensive economic growtheconomic growth

Family friendly social climateFamily friendly social climate Small steps are importantSmall steps are important, , tootoo

Proportion of working mothers compared to Proportion of working mothers compared to all women of the same educational level, by all women of the same educational level, by

number of childrennumber of children

Highest level of education

One Two Three Four or more

Total

children Primary school 47,3 42,7 17,0 12,1 38,6 Vocational school, apprentice school

57,5 60,1 25,3 21,5 54,8

Secondary school 64,9 67,5 21,0 19,2 62,3 Vocational secondary school

69,9 70,6 32,4 22,7 67,0

University, college 77,0 78,2 63,4 29,9 75,6 Total 61,6 62,3 27,2 16,0 57,0 ___________________________ Source: LFS-Ad-hoc module “Family in Transition”, 2001.

Distribution of child-care beneficiaries after Distribution of child-care beneficiaries after the entitlement period, by the possibility of the entitlement period, by the possibility of the return to work, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2002the return to work, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2002

The possibility of the return 1993 1995 1999 2002

The employer terminated 8,6 9,2 10,0 12,3 The employer doesn’t wish to employ the respondent

34,3 29,8 32,4 32,5

The employer would employ the respondent, but she/he didn’t want to work there

6,7

8,7

11,2

9,9

The employer would employ the respondent, and she/he wants to return

50,4

52,3

46,4

45,3

Total 100,0 100,0 100,0 100,0