Mothers go to the office, children go to daycare: Ukrainian women are offered to go to work a year after giving birth
Ukrainian society is facing an important decision that can fundamentally change the role of women in the family and on the labor market. Attention is focused on the possible reduction of maternity leave to one year, which will allow mothers to return to professional activities earlier. Such an approach promises to improve the economic situation of families and contribute to the growth of the standard of living in the country.
Discussions are underway in Ukraine regarding the reduction of maternity leave and the provision of conditions for women to combine work with raising children. Such measures are expected to have a positive impact on both the financial well-being of women and the demographic situation in the country.
Ella Libanova, director of the Institute of Demography and Social Research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, in her interview for “Glavkom” emphasized the importance of raising the standard of living of families with children, and not just stimulating the birth rate.
“Now we need to raise not the birth rate, but the standard of living of families with children.” Libanova said.
Last year, Harvard University professor Claudia Goldin won the Nobel Prize in Economics for her research that proves that in order to increase women’s earnings, it is necessary to create conditions that allow them to combine work with family responsibilities. This includes a flexible work schedule, the ability to work remotely, and the availability of advanced child care systems.
Libanova advises the government to develop the system of kindergartens, starting with groups for the youngest children, from one year.
“Previously, instead of improving the quality of care for children in kindergartens, we simply closed them. They decided that it is better for mom to stay at home until she is three years old.” – explains the expert.
Mothers who have a good education and want to build a career drop out of the professional environment after three years of maternity leave. This makes them wonder if they should have a second child, because it means three years out of the labor market again.
“What’s next? And then a woman will think a hundred times whether she should give birth to a second child, because it is another three years at home.”Libanova emphasized.
Providing quality childcare and work flexibility will be key to addressing this issue, allowing women to realize their professional ambitions and provide a decent standard of living for their families.
