Statement
FREE FOR PUBLICATION ON 25 MARCH 2011
Over 30 of the Finnish women’s, student and employees’ organizations
and Council for Gender Equality demand that the parental leave system
is reformed in accordance with the 6+6+6 model and the expenses caused
by parental leaves are shared.
A more equal sharing of parental leaves to both parents and the
sharing of parental expenses between employers would lengthen careers,
accelerate studies, facilitate the forming of a family during the
studies and increase the well-being and equality of families and
society. We, the representatives of the organizations and Council for
Gender Equality, demand that the future government will implement the
reform in accordance with the entire 6+6+6 model. The cosmetic repairs
of the parental leave system are no longer enough.
The working group of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
considered the reform of the family leave system and submitted its
memo to Minister Rehula in early March. The working group did not
reach an agreement on the suggested family leave model but it arrived
at a result to present three alternative models of the report.
The organisations comment that the 6+6+6 model is the only one of the
presented models that supports the equal sharing of parenting and
encourages fathers to stay at home with their children more than in
the current situation. In the 6+6+6 model, the parental leave would be
divided into three periods of six months, one of which is earmarked
for each parent and the third one can be shared according to the
parents’ preferences.
The organisations also demand that the expenses caused by family
leaves are divided equally. In addition to direct costs, indirect
costs such as the recruitment and introduction of deputies should also
be divided equally between employers.
An increasing number of children are cared for at home until the age
of 1.5 years. The mother is still mainly the one who takes the
childcare leave and thus the father's month discontinues the mother’s
childcare period. During the father's month, the mother is usually at
home as well and fathers are not solely responsible for child care.
The six months earmarked for the father would significantly improve
the fathers’ right to the child’s primary care and enable mothers to
return to the working life earlier. The model would benefit not only
the parents but also the child, as the parental leave would finish at
a more suitable time in terms of the child's development.
According to the Family Barometer (2010) of the Family Federation,
more than half of the Finns support the 6+6+6 model. According to the
Equality Barometer (Ministry of Social Affairs and Health 2008), 90 %
of the Finns think that men should be more involved in their
children’s care. By committing to the 6+6+6 model, the next
government would follow the majority's opinions.
We, the undersigned organizations and Council for Gender Equality,
demand that the future government enters in its government programme
the reform of the parental leave system in accordance with the 6+6+6
model.
Signatories:
Akava, Chairperson Matti Viljanen
Akavan opiskelijavaltuuskunta AOVA, Chairperson Ted Apter
Trade Union Pro, Chairperson Antti Rinne
Cotes ry, Vice Chairperson Sirpa Uimonen
Finlands Svenska Skolungdomsförbund FSS rf, Chairperson Alina Böling
Kokoomuksen Naisten Liitto ry, Chairperson Henna Virkkunen
Liberal Students LSK, Chairperson Mats Biström
Coalition of Finnish Women’s Associations NYTKIS, Chairperson Henna Virkkunen
Naisteologit ry. - Kvinnliga teologer rf, Chairperson Soili Juntumaa
Naistoimittajat, Chairperson Eeva Koskinen
NNKY-liitto, Chairperson Pia Öhman
Perussuomalaiset Naiset ry, Chairperson Marja-Leena Leppänen
Perussuomalaiset Nuoret ry, Chairperson Simon Elo
Social Democratic Women, Chairperson Maria Guzenina-Richardson
Sosialidemokraattiset Opiskelijat SONK ry, Chairperson Sarita Niemi
STTK-Opiskelijat ry, Chairperson Ilona Vihlman
Suomalainen Naisliitto, Chairperson Maija Kauppinen
Suomen Akateemisten Naisten Liitto, Chairperson Ritva Tammivaara
Suomen Ammattiin Opiskelevien Liitto - SAKKI ry, Chairperson Susanna Haapalainen
Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences,
Chairperson Helmi Selamo
SEFE, The Finnish Association of Business School Graduates, Vice
chairperson Maria Bäck
Women’s Organization of the Finnish Centre Party, Chairperson Anneli
Jäätteenmäki
Suomen Kätilöliitto - Finlands Barnmorskeförbund ry, Chairperson Terhi Virtanen
Suomen Liike- ja Virkanaisten Liitto, Chairperson Leena Roivas
Suomen Nuorisoyhteistyö - Allianssi ry, Chairperson Hanna-Mari Manninen
Suomen Opiskelija-Allianssi Osku ry, Chairperson Riina Kutvonen
The National Union of University Students in Finland SYL, Chairperson
Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi
Svenska Kvinnoförbundet rf, Chairperson Carola Sundqvist
Tasa-arvoasiain neuvottelukunta TANE, Chairperson Heidi Hautala
Tekstiiliopettajaliitto TOL ry, Chairperson Jaana Inki
Left Women, Chairperson Saila Ruuth
Vasemmisto-opiskelijat, Chairperson Katri Immonen
Federation of Green Youth and Students - ViNO, Co-chairperson Paloma
Hannonen and co-chairperson Inka Venetvaara
Green Women in Finland, Chairperson Heli Järvinen
Further information:
Tanja Auvinen, NYTKIS ry, 050 469 6242
Sini Terävä, SYL ry, 041 515 2227
