Balancing act between work and care
Paus is calling for more money for caring relatives
March 6, 2024, 1:30 p.m
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Around ten percent of working people look after relatives in addition to their employment. So far they have received little support from the state – but according to Family Minister Paus, that will soon change.
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus wants to better support employed people who care for relatives at home in addition to their job. “There is complete agreement in the professional world that caring employees need more time and more flexibility in order to be able to stay in their jobs despite caring,” wrote Paus in a guest article for the t-online portal.
She pointed out that four million people care for relatives at home in addition to their paid work. This corresponds to around ten percent of all working people.
“All of these employed people provide care ‘informally’ – meaning: they do not provide care as a full-time job and to this day do not receive sufficient financial support,” wrote Paus. “I think: We have to end this financial disadvantage. Anyone who takes on responsibility for care must not fall into the poverty trap.”
The government is working on practical regulations
The family minister emphasized: “No one should quit their job completely because of care – that’s what we have to and want to achieve in Germany.” What is needed is “finally practical legal rules for companies”, also in order to defy the shortage of skilled workers. “We are working hard on this in the federal government.”
The compatibility of care and work “is not a private matter,” emphasized Paus. “It is a task for society as a whole.”