EFSI welcomes the EP call for the European Year for Reconciling Work and Family Life

As a member of the EY2014 Alliance, EFSI calls on the President of the European Commission to designate 2014 as the European Year for Reconciling Work and Family Life.

On the 7th of February, the European Parliament adopted with 388 signatures the Written Declaration Nr 32 asking for the designation of 2014 as the European Year for Reconciling Work and Family Life. Initiated by Marian Harkin (Ireland, ALDE), the Written Declaration underlines that “better support for reconciliation measures will enable women and men in all kinds of family models to exercise greater choice in balancing work and family life in the basis of their individual needs and preferences”.

The current changes in family structures (increased participation of women in the labour market, high number of single parent families, etc.) and the population ageing result in greater difficulties for families to cope with everyday life tasks. Thus 53% of European workers declare having difficulties balancing their work and family lives because they come home from work too tired to do household jobs. 

Personal and household services offers innovative and affordable solutions to families enabling them to better conciliate work and family responsibilities. The demand for housework services (cleaning, ironing, meal preparation, etc.), childcare and long-term care services will keep on rising in the coming years. EFSI considers that this far-reaching societal challenge must be addressed comprehensively at EU level in order to improve the social situation of millions of families.

More information on the EY2014 campaign website.