Cabinet’s plan to cut parental leave benefits could reverse gains in gender equality
The Dutch government’s plan to reduce parental leave benefits for middle- and high-income earners could lead to more gender inequality, experts warned Saturday. According to NOS, researchers say the measure would disproportionately affect men, who typically earn more than women, and may discourage fathers from taking leave.
Anne Roeters, a researcher at the Netherlands Institute for Social Research and advisor on leave policies at the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands, said, “This will almost certainly reduce leave uptake among fathers. Because of the societal norm that men are the primary earners, fathers are already a difficult group to reach. They also face resistance at work if they want to take leave. Reducing benefits adds another obstacle.”
Fathers already cite financial reasons as the main factor in declining parental leave. While most intend to share childcare equally with their partner, CBS research shows that happens in only one in ten families. Mara Yerkes, a professor at Utrecht University, said, “Lowering the benefit would be a major step backward compared to the large investments over the past ten years to promote gender equality.”
Ten years ago, fathers were entitled to just two days of paid leave at the birth of a child. Today, men in paid employment are entitled to both partner and parental leave, totaling 3.5 months of paid leave. Studies, including by the Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands, indicate that fathers taking leave improves equality at home and at work, with positive effects on the economy and national wealth. International comparisons show men are most likely to take leave when benefits closely match their regular salary.
The government proposes lowering benefits for those earning more than 5,294 euros gross per month. The highest earners could see a reduction of 926 euros. For example, a person earning 6,617 euros gross per month would receive 3,705.52 euros in leave pay, a 44 percent loss. Those earning between 5,294 and 6,617 euros would also see reductions, but less severe.
Yerkes emphasized, “It is up to politics to choose." I can only conclude that these plans are not wise if you want to promote gender equality at home and at work.”
Collective labor agreements (CAOs) already provide extra compensation for parental leave in some cases. In 24 of the 108 largest CAOs, partners receive full pay while on leave. The employers’ organization AWVN warned that the cabinet’s proposal could undermine these arrangements. A spokesperson said, “This proposal can only negatively affect parents who want to take leave. Even if the CAO includes additional pay, it is uncertain how employers will implement it if all leave benefits are cut. It depends on the exact wording of the CAO and how much the employer can contribute. Wages have already risen, and companies must watch costs.” The EU work-life balance directive requires member states to make it financially feasible for men to take leave.
