Trade union proposes flexible legislation on leave

The topic of improving conditions for families with small children is high on the political agenda in Denmark. A trade union proposal for new and more flexible legislation on parental leave, issued in January 1998, has been well received by employers.

In his speech traditionally delivered on New Year's day, the Prime Minister, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, emphasised the need for improved conditions for families with small children, and state that the social partners should play a more prominent part in this regard.

On 29 January 1998, Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark (Handels- og Kontorfunktionærernes Forbund i Danmark, HK) responded to the challenge by tabling a proposal concerning a new and flexible leave scheme. According to HK, the problem is less a question of the volume of time off available to be spent with children - altogether, childcare and parental leave already give each family 136 weeks or 2½ years of leave - but more the degree of flexibility in the existing leave schemes.

The call for more flexibility has foremost been voiced by men, who make up only 8%-10% of those taking childcare leave. Since 92% of women with children are engaged in active employment, with an average working week of 34 hours, improved flexibility will make it easier for women to maintain a relationship with the labour market, while spending time with their children.

The present leave schemes provide for either (full-time) work or full-time leave. There is no middle course - no opportunity for partial leave and partial work. HK therefore proposes to amalgamate the two leave schemes into one item of legislation, and in this way give each of the parents a "pool" of weeks for leave and a small joint pool to be distributed between them, at their free choice. How and when to make use of the right to go on leave would be up to each family to decide. That means that parents would be able to choose which kind of leave they want; full-time leave, partial leave, or leave during certain periods of their children's life.

HK proposes the following combinations of leave and work for parents:

• 50% work combined with 50% leave;

• 60% work combined with 40% leave;

• 70% work combined with 30% leave;

• 80% work combined with 20% leave; and

• 90% work combined with 10% leave.

In the opinion of the Danish Employers' Confederation (Dansk Arbejdsgiverforening, DA), HK's idea is an interesting, legitimate proposal.

A debate in Parliament on 6 February 1998 on how to improve conditions for families with small children, reflected political support for the flexible component in the proposal from HK. The topic will most certainly remain on the political agenda, as the Prime Minister has called a general election on 11 March 1998.