Women in the Netherlands: Tied to the kitchen

Guilt, as well as lack of child care, stops Dutch women working more

A housing crisis is shaking America, but some Dutch property is doing well. Churches, scouting clubs, greenhouses, empty offices, prefabricated containers—anything with a roof and running water is being feverishly sought out by schools. Since last month, in a new effort to get house-bound Dutch mothers to work, all schools have had to offer afternoon child care.

Female participation in the workforce, at 66%, is higher than the European average, but that reflects lots of part-time work. A 2006 study found that 61% of Dutch women in work are part-time; in Germany it is only 39%. Many governments have pledged to increase women’s work hours, but it is hard to do. It is logical to start with schools, where classes finish by 3pm at the latest; some schools even insist on children being picked up for lunch at noon. Child care has long been scarce and costly. The new law is meant to change that.

Read full article: The Economist, 6 September 2007