To put the Child in the Centre
Politicians
and economists agree that the compatibility of family work with paid job
is one of the key issues among the challenges of employment and social
policies of the future. Demographic studies predict a considerable decrease
of population in the productive age, which throws strong doubts upon the
sustainability of the European social system. Employment strategies wish
to motivate mothers to return into the working process.
The Federation of Catholic Family Associations in Europe (FAFCE) has approached this subject under the aspect of the child's welfare. "Compatibility of family work and employment, with special respect to the child's welfare " was the title of a round table discussion within the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels on 29 November 2004 that is documented in the booklet "To put the Child in the Centre".
Dr. Gudrun Cyprian, Professor for Sociology at the University Bamberg, MA Constantinos Fotakis, head of the dept. "Social and demographic analyses " of the General Direction V of the European Commission, Mag. Gero Stuller (MA) of the Federal Ministry for Social Security and Consumer Protection, and Mag. Othmar Karas, member of the European Parliament and vice president of the European People's Party discuss the issue of compatibility of family work and employment with special regard to the well-being of children.
The brochure "To put the Child in the Centre" (€ 6,00
plus postage) can be ordered at the Catholic Family Association by telephone
01/51552-3201 or by E-mail info@familie.at.