Germany's family policy facing criticism: Mother's professional contributions underestimated
In the heart of Europe, Germany is grappling with a significant demographic challenge - a low birth rate and an aging society. The country is home to a diverse population, and the needs of its youngest members - security, love, attention, and emotional stability - have remained constant for millennia.
Recognising the importance of supporting families, key policies and societal changes are being implemented to create an environment where families receive both practical and financial support. These measures aim to address Germany's demographic crisis and promote healthy child development.
Enhancing work–life balance is a crucial component of these changes. The EU Work-Life Balance Directive (2019/1158) sets minimum standards for parental and carer's leave, ensuring sufficient paid parental leave, flexible working conditions, and policies supporting unpaid carers, mostly women. These policies reduce the burden on mothers and encourage higher fertility by making child-rearing more compatible with employment.
Expanding access to affordable and quality childcare and early childhood education is another significant focus. This helps children’s development and supports parents returning to work, addressing family needs in changing demographic contexts. The European care strategy and Council recommendations emphasize increasing formal care services and reducing social isolation of carers.
Family reunification for skilled workers and refugees is also being facilitated. Recent German laws have eased family reunification for skilled workers’ spouses and children by removing requirements such as proving adequate living space and extending eligibility to parents. However, family reunification for refugees with subsidiary protection status is currently suspended for two years since July 2025, which may impact demographic renewal and family stability for these groups.
Investment in maternal, newborn, and child health services is crucial to reduce mortality and promote healthy development. Ensuring sufficient funding and access to care in Germany, especially for vulnerable populations, aligns with best practices to support families.
Addressing gender equality is also vital, especially the disproportionate care burden on women. By enabling mothers greater participation in labor markets alongside family life, supported by broader EU gender equality strategies and policies, fertility decline can be mitigated.
In Germany, both parents, mother and father, fulfill different tasks that are important for the development of children. Mothers traditionally instil values and create a stable foundation for children to grow up in, while fathers provide protection and education. In the first year after giving birth, around 80% of mothers do not work outside the home and primarily care for their child themselves. By the third year, about 50% of mothers work part-time and continue to shoulder a significant portion of childcare.
The well-being of children strongly depends on a stable, loving bond with their caregivers, which is often overlooked. As the average age of mothers at first birth rises to 30.4 years, complicating family planning, it is essential to ensure that families and parents receive societal recognition, financial security, flexible work models, reliable childcare options, and time for their children.
While paid work is often recognised over unpaid family work, which is socially and economically undervalued, it is crucial to acknowledge the significant role that mothers play in the early years of a child's life. The best care for young children in the first years of life is usually provided by the mother, followed by joint care by both parents.
By implementing these policies and changes, Germany is creating an environment where families are supported, care responsibilities are shared more equally, and children benefit from healthy early development, contributing to addressing the country's demographic challenges.
- Recognizing the importance of supporting families, Germany is implementing key policies that focus on enhancing work-life balance, such as the EU Work-Life Balance Directive, to support mothers and fathers by ensuring sufficient paid parental leave, flexible working conditions, and policies supporting unpaid carers.
- As part of their demographic strategy, Germany is expanding access to affordable and quality childcare and early childhood education, which helps to address family needs in changing demographic contexts and promotes healthy child development.
- Family reunification for skilled workers and refugees is being facilitated in Germany, with recent laws easing family reunification for skilled workers' spouses and children, but with a temporary suspension for refugees with subsidiary protection status from July 2025, which may impact demographic renewal and family stability.
- Addressing gender equality is vital in Germany, and the government is aiming to mitigate fertility decline by enabling mothers greater participation in labor markets alongside family life, supported by EU gender equality strategies and policies that address the disproportionate care burden on women.
