Alfred Trendl, President of the Catholic Family Association, draws an annual balance sheet in terms of family policy before 2021 begins
Vienna (OTS) – “The year 2020 has shown us that families are an essential resource for society as a whole,” said family association president Alfred Trendl with conviction. He would like to use the days before the turn of the year to thank the families: “From one day to the next, families showed themselves to be flexible in spring and autumn and, of course, took on the care and education of their children. That is a remarkable achievement and a major reason why the number of infections could fall in the individual lockdowns ”, Alfred Trendl is convinced that the family is“ systemically relevant ”.
Financial support
In order to meet this great challenge, numerous support measures have been taken. “An essential step was the opening of the family hardship compensation fund, which we demanded, also for families who are financially affected by Corona,” says Trendl. Between April 15 and the beginning of November, 122,376 applications were submitted and around 67,000 families received around 88 million euros. The average donation was around 1,300 euros. It is very pleasing that the opening of the family hardship compensation now at the end of the year for families with income from land and Forestry was opened.
“However, in the second or third lockdown, many parents are again unemployed or on short-time work. It would be good if there was the possibility of renewed support in these cases, ”said Trendl, referring to the economy, which – in contrast to families – can apply for support several times.
For the president of the family association, the special payment of 360 euros per child, which was made in September together with the family allowance, is particularly positive: “This gave families quick and unbureaucratic support and stimulated purchasing power in the country. Such a measure would also be important in spring 2021, ”said Trendl. But the expansion of the maintenance advance was also of great importance for single parents.
Education and compatibility
In addition to the financial burden, it was above all the compatibility of work and family that weighed heavily on parents: “We are very pleased that the special care period has been introduced and that there is also a legal right to it,” says Trendl, praising this measure as “sensible and well thought out” . He also found the fact that schools and kindergartens in Austria always offered emergency care as positive: “That was not a matter of course, in other countries it was surveyed whether the parents who took a place for their child were systemically relevant or not, ”reports Trendl:“ In the second lockdown, around 15 percent of families in the school area took advantage of this option. This clearly shows that this offer is being used responsibly ”, he is convinced that this is a viable option.
“In the field of education, the introduction of ethics lessons for all those who do not attend religious instruction is a milestone,” says Trendl, praising this measure. He sees a need to catch up in the area of digitization: “This year, many deficits have become apparent, especially with regard to the equipment in schools,” says Trendl. By 2022, 200 million euros are to be spent to equip schools and pupils in the fifth and sixth grades with laptops and tablets.
Outlook for 2021
Trendl also points to a lack of development opportunities: There are still far too few affordable and larger apartments for families, this is the responsibility of the federal states, as is the fight against child poverty. Both the increase in the standard consumption tax for larger cars towards the end of the year and the preferential sales tax treatment of hygiene products for women, but not for children, represent discrimination against families.
In 2021, the change in the offsetting of child-raising periods from the previous median income to the general median income should finally take place. An expansion of childcare facilities in purely quantitative terms, as recently also demanded by the social partners, instead of increasing quality, is irresponsible and therefore to be rejected.
Inquiries & contact:
Catholic Family Association of Austria
Press and public relations
0664/ 88 52 26 20
hurry@familie.at
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