Countries debate vacation scheduling, mattress purchases, and financial stimulus packages
In Germany, a significant shift is underway as the federal government proposes a tax-based investment quick program and advocate for a circular economy for mattresses. The proposed program, based on Document 208/25, aims to make full-day care for primary school children on workdays a legal right from the 2026/2027 school year. This includes children in grades 1 to 4 having a legal right to up to eight hours of full-day care on workdays, including during school holidays.
However, this ambitious plan comes with potential tax losses, estimated to be around 30 billion euros, with states and municipalities bearing two-thirds of this burden. FDP faction leader Hans-Ulrich Rülke supports the investment booster despite these potential losses, but warns against not relieving the economy from a tax perspective during economically challenging times in Germany, which could lead to a "financial policy capitulation of the public budgets across the board."
The practice of recycling old mattresses is already in place in countries like France and the Benelux, and the Federal Council aims for German mattress manufacturers to ensure the recycling of old mattresses in the future. The IHK Region Stuttgart has welcomed this decision, with CEO Susanne Herre stating that lack of care options often leads many employees to work part-time more than they want, particularly affecting women.
In contrast, Switzerland does not have an explicit nationwide legal right to full-day care for primary school children during school holidays. The lack of such a provision creates significant challenges for employees, particularly women, who may face difficulties balancing work and childcare during school breaks. This situation can contribute to reduced labor market participation or career interruptions for women, potentially impacting gender equality in employment.
Employers in Switzerland may provide some supportive measures, but childcare during holidays is largely a personal responsibility. The need to arrange and pay for holiday care can add financial and logistical burdens on families, with women employees disproportionately bearing these burdens due to prevailing social norms about childcare responsibilities. Consequently, the limited formal holiday childcare provision can reinforce gender disparities in the workplace and constrain mothers’ employment opportunities.
To address these challenges, expanding publicly funded or mandated holiday childcare services would be necessary in Switzerland. This would support employees, especially women, by enabling better reconciliation of work and family life during school holidays. Currently, such comprehensive legal provisions and nationwide services do not exist in Switzerland, which is an important implication for gender equality in employment.
- The proposed tax-based investment program in Germany, while aiming to provide full-day care as a legal right for primary school children, may lead to significant policy-and-legislation issues related to education-and-self-development, as states and municipalities are expected to bear two-thirds of the estimated 30 billion euros in tax losses.
- In the context of General-news, Switzerland does not have an explicit legal right to full-day care for primary school children during school holidays, which creates challenges for employees, particularly women, and could potential impact gender equality in employment.
- To promote learning and gender equality in employment, it's vital for Switzerland to consider implementing comprehensive legislative policies, similar to those in countries like Germany, that provide for publicly funded or mandated holiday childcare services, enabling better reconciliation of work and family life during school breaks.
