The president of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, announced yesterday that the General State Budgets of 2019 will include important measures for conciliation and co-responsibility between men and women: it aims match paternity and maternity leave and universalize the educational stage from zero to three years.
Without a doubt, it is a step forward, at least in intentions, although he has not mentioned the only really conciliatory measure that the Spanish mothers and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics (AEP) have been demanding for a long time: Maternity leave increase at least up to six months.
In Babies and more According to the AEPap, maternity leave should be extended to at least six monthsThe President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, made this announcement before participating in the obstacle course for the conciliation and co-responsibility of women and men 'I do not quit', organized by the Club de las Malasmadres in Alcobendas (Madrid).
Steps for reconciliation
- Equal paternity and maternity leave
The intentions of the Spanish Government are somewhat ambiguous. In the words of Pedro Sánchez, we understand that he is talking about an extension of the parents' low pay at 16 weeks, the same time that moms now have. But it does not explain whether they will be parallel to those of the mother or consecutive, as established by the Basque Country to be able to take refuge.
In Babies and more Reconciliation of work and family life: a long way to goNor does it say anything about increasing maternity leave at six months, the mothers request as an indispensable conciliation measure. And therefore, matching the losses of dad and mom to those 24 weeks, to achieve the co-responsibility of women and men.
- Universalization of nursery schools
According to the president "fundamental for the reconciliation between men and women". Undoubtedly, this accessibility for all to the Infant School is an advance, but what really benefits the babies and the conciliation is not the increase of the nurseries, but that the fathers and mothers can have more time of withdrawal for Take care of your children.
In Babies and more, we do not want more daycare centers but better reconciliation policies and broader maternity and paternity leave"Some budgets for 2019 more social, egalitarian and redistributive"
Those were the words used by the Minister of Finance, María Jesús Montero, this week, when she announced the reduction of VAT on women's health products, from 10 to four percent.
The minister talked about upcoming budgets of 125,000 million euros, which will allow, as announced by Pedro Sánchez:
- Boosting women's sport:
"Many times we only think of the elite men's sport, but many women are doing an extraordinary job in the sports field."
In Babies and more The anti-pregnancy clauses and the inability to reconcile, the discrimination suffered by some athletes in our country- Equality Law:
"If in this legislature we achieve a law of equality between men and women and end the wage gap from the legal point of view we will have achieved a lot in favor of the progress and prosperity of the citizens as a whole."
Because according to Pedro Sánchez, co-responsibility:
"It is a right of mothers and a responsibility of men. Let us make it possible among all."
So we will have to wait to see the final 2019 General State Budget. Because what is being talked about is a very generic draft, which we have to present to the European Commission before October 15, so that they can get an idea of our expenses for next year.
We need measures of more concrete and effective conciliation That really benefit everyone. To the mothers, so that they do not see themselves in the dilemma of having to choose between maternity and professional career, as well as the parents, who have the right to take care of their children in equality, and of course for the children, who are the ones who should Be at the center of these measures.
