Bogner-Strauss, for women’s: Economic independence of women further strengthen

Age avoid poverty: raise Awareness of the consequences of long part-time work

Vienna (OTS) – „100 years Ago women could make for the first time exercised their right to vote. Much has been achieved in the past 100 years. But the social change, there is still a lot to do – also for the policy. Because it is only when the conditions are right, will be a matter of course. As the Minister for women’s Affairs, the issues of equal pay for work of equal value, and better reconciliation of family and work, economic independence for women in any age and prevention of violence, therefore, are at the very top of my Agenda,“ said Juliane Bogner-Strauß, Federal Minister for women, families and youth on the occasion of tomorrow’s international women’s day.

The Gender Gap through part-time work

„We need to raise awareness of the consequences of long part-time work. For the purposes of the freedom of choice, no woman should be forced to work part-time. Therefore, the Expansion of child care and more fathers ‚ involvement are especially important to me. Childcare and education is the responsibility of both parents. For this, we need to create more awareness,“ says Bogner-Strauß. The policy creates the new 15a agreement for the Expansion of childcare the necessary framework: „We have put the emphasis on the Expansion of places for Under-Three-Year-old, as well as longer and more flexible opening Hours. Working parents are to be preferred in the allocation of places.“

To long part-time work also impacts on the Pension in later life. The project KEYSTONE (Transparent pension for the future security of economic independence of women in the age) will for the first time identified the specific factors and reasons for the pension gap in Austria and analysed. „We are developing concrete measures to reduce the Gender Pension Gap and to implement. And we will work out measures to create greater awareness,“ says Bogner-Strauß.

MINT-corners at child-care facilities

In the career choice of girls, early awareness is crucial in order to achieve their economic independence in adulthood. „We want to inspire girls early on for technical professions and according to encourage. You can start already in kindergarten age by looking around the establishment of a MINT-corners,“ said the Minister. Also good Role Models in the education of girls and women are important.

Expansion of transitional housing – protection from violence

Financial independence makes it easier for women also, from a spiral of violence breaking out. At the same time, it is of course important that Sufferers get quick relief. At the end of March, there will be, therefore, in the Federal Chancellery for a Meeting on the topic of „protection against Violence“ with all the politically competent regional councillors, where the Development of transitional housing in the provinces, and the financing is spoken. „The change in a woman’s house in a different state, in particularly serious cases or those at the border must be possible in the future. Also, we will be prepared at the Meeting at the end of March together solutions,“ says Bogner-Strauß.

Herbert Rupp
The press spokesman of the Federal Minister
+ 43 1 531 15 – 63 3404
herbert.rupp@bka.gv.at