Dutch women would like to work full-time, but the current childcare system prevents them from doing so, according to a study that interest group WOMEN Inc. has carried out. Parents find childcare complex and expensive. In addition, many parents experience stress due to the combination of work and care.
Research agency DirectResearch questioned slightly more than 1,500 parents with young children and carers for the study. This shows that especially parents with low-paid jobs prefer not to opt for childcare. 69 percent of them think childcare is too expensive.
In addition, many parents find it a complex system. 80 percent of the parents have to pay back money afterwards or receive an extra allowance. According to them, this makes the costs of childcare unclear.
The study also shows that the current partner leave system is not attractive to everyone. Since this summer, partners can take up to five weeks leave after the birth of their child. They then have to give up 30 percent of their salary.
According to the survey, 47 percent of partners make full use of it. If partners were to continue to be paid in full during that period, the share would be 72 percent. According to WOMEN Inc. the care responsibilities at home would be more fairly distributed if more partners take this leave.
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