Recommendation 1992/241 - 92/241/EEC: Council recommendation of 31 March 1992 on child care - Main contents

official title

 

Legal instrument	Recommendation
Number legal act	Recommendation 1992/241
Original proposal	COM(1991)233
CELEX number i	31992H0241

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92/241/EEC: Council recommendation of 31 March 1992 on child care

Official Journal L 123 , 08/05/1992 P. 0016 - 0018

COUNCIL RECOMMENDATION of 31 March 1992 on child care (92/241/EEC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (1),

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (3),

Whereas the Community Charter of the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers, adopted in the Strasbourg European Council on 9 December 1989 by the Heads of State or Government of eleven Member States, lays down, in the third paragraph of point 16 in particular, that:

'Measures should also be developed to enable men and women to reconcile their occupational and family obligations';

Whereas the Commission action programme implementing the Community Charter provides for this Recommendation;

Whereas in its Third Medium-Term Action Programme on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men (1991-1995), the Commission identified the need for further action in this area;

Whereas in its communication on family policies, sent to the Council on 24 August 1989, the Commission emphasized the importance of intensifying work relating to child care;

Whereas child-care methods, parental leave and maternity leave from part of a whole which enables people to combine their family responsibilities and occupational ambitions;

Whereas the Member States should take and/or encourage initiatives, taking into account the responsibilities of national, regional and local authorities, management and labour, other relevant organizations and private individuals, and/or in cooperation with the various parties concerned;

Whereas the reconciliation of occupational, family and upbringing responsabilities arising from the care of children has to be viewed in a wide perspective which also takes into account the particular interests and needs of children at different age levels, where it is important, in order to achieve this, to encourage an overall policy aimed at enabling such reconciliation to occur;

Whereas it is essential to promote the well-being of children and families, ensuring that their various needs are met and taking into account the fact that responsabilities arising from the care and upbringing of children continue up to and throughout the period of children's schooling, and especially when they are younger;

Whereas in all Member States the demand for child-care services at prices affordable to parents exceeds the existing supply;

Whereas inadequate provision of child-care services at prices affordable to parents and other initiatives to reconcile responsibility for the family and the upbringing of children with the employment, or with the education and training of parents in order to obtain employment constitutes a major barrier to women's access to and more effective participation in the labour market, on equal terms with men, the effective participation of women in all areas of society and the effective use of their talents, skills and abilities in the current demographic situation;

Whereas, moreover, in this area, disparities exist between Member States and between regions within Member States;

Whereas, furthermore, better child-care services could facilitate freedom of movement of workers and mobility on the European labour market;

Whereas child-care services may be public or private, individual or collective in form;

Whereas child care is a broad concept which may involve the provision of child-care services which answer the needs of children, the grant of special leave to parents and the development of a working environment structure and organization which is adapted to the sharing between women and men of occupational, family and upbringing...

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