1. Part-time jobs in the Netherlands: Background of an accidental development Monique Kuunders, Netherlands Youth Institute November 30 th, 2010

2. 2 Overview How many Dutch people work part-time? Why do they work part-time? Fiscal policies for working parents Benefit or harm? Future issues

3. 3 Overview How many Dutch people work part-time? Why do they work part-time? Fiscal policies for working parents Benefit or harm? Future issues

4. 4 Netherlands: champion part-time work! Part-time employment for EU countries, 2008

5. High labour participation of mothers, but they work little hours 70% of mothers work (2009) …but: 44% work no more than 18 hours per week 25 hrs/wk is average for women in the Netherlands (2007) 5

6. Mothers of children <18 in 2009 6

7. Couples with children <18 19922009 7

8. 8 Overview How many Dutch people work part-time? Why do they work part-time? Fiscal policies for working parents Benefit or harm? Future issues

9. Why? - Historical background 1950s: shortage of young female staff 1973: tax reform – tax on individual income 1980s: policy of part-time jobs at government 1982: Wassenaar agreement 1987: equal treatment of full-time and part- time employees in employment insurance 1996: Ban on discriminating on work hours 2000: Working Hours Adjustment Act 9

10. Why? - Recent developments 2005: Child Care Act 2007: Act on Primary Education obligates schools to facilitate child care after school Booming child care use! 10

11. Why? - Dutch women want to work part-time They can financially Part-time jobs are available Balance between work and private life All Ill earn, will go to child care It is the way to do it: –you dont have children and then let them be raised by somebody else –you dont live to work, but work to live 11

12. Why? - Part-time jobs offer a solution to employers Preferred option of employees Work planning Handling variation in staffing needs and costs 12

13. 13 Overview How many Dutch people work part-time? Why do they work part-time? Fiscal policies for working parents Benefit or harm? Future issues

14. Working parents are allegible for a range of tax arrangements Child related allowance (Kindgebonden budget) --> the lower the income, the higher Child care allowance (Kinderopvangtoeslag) Lone parent reduction (Alleenstaande ouderkorting) Parental leave reduction (Ouderschapsverlofkorting) 14

15. General tax arrangements General income reduction (Algemene heffingskorting) transferable between partners! Combination reduction (Combinatiekorting) for lowest earning partner, only if both partners work 15

16. 16 Overview How many Dutch people work part-time? Why do they work part-time? Fiscal policies for working parents Benefit or harm? Future issues

17. Dutch government: participation of women in work should rise! 17

18. Small part-time jobs are a problem Small amount of hours contributed to work force by women Financial independance of the woman and her family (more single-parents) 18

19. 19 Overview How many Dutch people work part-time? Why do they work part-time? Fiscal policies for working parents Benefit or harm? Future issues

20. More opportunities for woman government plan Stimulate participation of women in work force: Work should pay Combining work and care should be easier More equal distribution of work between men and women 20

21. A flexible social infrastructure 21 Governmental services open at night community-schools and day care centres Medical services open at night Flexible work-times

22. 22 picture: Peter de wit Thank you Monique Kuunders, MSc: m.kuunders@nji.nl The Netherlands Youth Institute (Nederlands Jeugdinstituut)

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24. Part-time jobs in the Netherlands: Solution options – for discussion Monique Kuunders, Netherlands Youth Institute November 30 th, 2010

25. The problem in the Netherlands High labour participation of mothers, but they work little hours 70% of mothers work (2009) …but: 44% work no more than 18 hours per week 25 hrs/wk is average for women in the Netherlands (2007) 25

26. 26 There is a complex of reasons Fiscal policy is still partly supportive of breadwinner families The working place in some industries is now used to part time employees Child care facilities and primary schools are designed for one-and-a-half earners Public opinion is supportive of part-time working mothers

27. Taskforce ParttimePlus Taskforce DeeltijdPlus started researching the question how to stimulate people to work a bigger job in 2008. 27

28. Focused legal framework 28 Starting point: working pays Flexible working times Paid parental leave No general income reduction for families No fiscal regulations that are barriers to work

29. Focused legal framework (2) 29 Student-loan pay back not related to work hours A flexible maternal leave One ministry No 9-to-5 attitude Regulations on work conditions An active information policy

30. The right public services 30 For children from 0-12: Child care and education One service; one location No out-of-school lunch break Open 8:00-18:00

31. Tackle 31 -Jobs barrier -Financial barrier -Practical barrier

32. But in the end… 32 Working is an obligation ??? Elma Drayer, author of Spoiled princesses – portrait of the Dutch woman (Verwende prinsesjes – portret van de Nederlandse vrouw).

33. 33 picture: Peter de wit Thank you Monique Kuunders, MSc: m.kuunders@nji.nl The Netherlands Youth Institute (Nederlands Jeugdinstituut)

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36. I thought oh, how will I manage this?!. In the end, I stopped working for a couple of years and became a primairy school teacher 36

37. I started in 1999 as first part-time surgeon in training. My professor was not amused. But since then I never got complaints. I am totally satisfied by the way I arranged things. I just also want to be with my children. 37

38. 38 Single mothers (2009)Mothers with partner (2009)