Ensuring a needs-based work-life balance for all: How adequate flexible working conditions can support intergenerational solidarity and the empowerment of women

Social rights

Background

Current demographic trends in Europe will have major social and economic implications: there is an overall increase in age (not necessarily accompanied by a rising number of healthy life years), while the number of births is steadily decreasing. At the same time, differences exist between national systems and  conditions surrounding employment and working conditions while gender equality is far from being achieved, despite considerable progress. While EU citizens engage in unpaid care activities for more than half of their life, significant gender inequalities persist. Women spend six more years (39 years) than men (33 years) carrying out unpaid care activities meeting the needs of children and older relatives.

The EESC has repeatedly highlighted the need to better adapt working conditions to demographic trends, drawing attention to the growing concerns around ageing, the declining number of people of working age and the resulting labour shortages, work-life balance conflicts, persistent gender inequalities and the rising care gap.

Alongside a rights-based approach, a "needs-based approach" to work-life balance can be supported, that introduces a flexible, adaptive framework that prioritises and addresses the varying personal and professional requirements of workers. By recognising the unique needs of workers and also taking into account the needs of companies, it is possible to create a more supportive work environment that fosters worker satisfaction, improves worker retention and enables overall work-life harmony, thus making the economy more competitive.

Key points

The EESC:

  • stresses the urgent need to adapt strategies for work-life balance taking into consideration the shifting demographics, new forms of work, flexible working arrangements and rising care demands, in view of the 2027 revision of the Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers;
  • notes that ageing populations require increased resources for care services and recommends the Council ask the Commission to develop a Care Toolbox with indicators for long-term care;
  • emphasises that needs-based measures should provide affordable, accessible, high-quality services benefiting workers, families, companies, and public authorities;
  • notes that despite some progress, women still bear most unpaid care work, contributing to the “feminisation of poverty” as women leave their jobs or reduce their working hours to care for a relative or children. Therefore, supporting care work and financial security of families and workers should be viewed as an investment benefiting society and the economy and not as an expense;
  • suggests that the Commission assess work-life balance policies in EU companies, including benefits, challenges, and impacts on competitiveness as well as good practices, including in SMEs; attention should be also paid to the potential of intergenerational cooperation in the workplace;
  • highlights that in the post-pandemic period, it is important to examine, evaluate and update, where necessary, the employment-related measures taken as a result of the pandemic, including flexible working arrangements (FWA) and integrate them into the review process of Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers;
  • highlights social dialogue as key to achieving appropriate work-life balance, with civil society organisations supporting the process.

The text of the draft opinion can be found here.

Additional information

Section: Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)

Opinion number: SOC/808

Opinion type: Exploratory

Rapporteur: Kinga Joó

Co-rapporteur: Erika Koller

Date of adoption by section: 3/10/2024

Result of the vote: 83 in favour/0 against/2 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: xxxx – xxxx

Result of the vote:   in favour/ against/ abstentions

Contacts

Press officer: Leonard Mallett

Tel.: 00 32 2 546 93 37

Email: Leonard.Mallett@eesc.europa.eu  

 

Administrator: Bartek Bednarowicz

Tel.: +32 2 546 92 29

Email: Bartek.Bednarowicz@eesc.europa.eu