Women And Family : Germany

As of April 1994, 8.9 million out of 19.7 million married couples in Germany had no children in the household or were childless. Families with three or more children are becoming increasingly rare, while the percentage of families with one or two children is growing. The Federal Government is aware of the importance of family promotion, as manifest in its legislation providing for the child-raising benefit and child-raising leave.

The child-raising benefit of DM600 per month is paid for the first two years after the birth of each child to those mothers or fathers who do not return to work or do not work full time during that period and whose annual net income does not exceed a specific amount. During this period the parent who chooses to take child-raising leave cannot be given notice. Another advantage is that child-raising periods (three years for each child born in 1992 or later) count towards the parent’s pension entitlement. And since 1992, the same applies to time spent taking care of sick family members. This is an important step towards a fair assessment of work in the family compared with gainful activity.