the

 

  

 

November 13, 1984

Mad Hatter

_A Douglas College Newsletter.

 

 

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ithe work of Douglas College's Family

 

REVOLUTIONIZED FAMILY LEGISLATION

Looking at the social legislation in
Sweden as a guest of the Swedish
Institute has put some insight into

Development Centre coordinator,
Lillian Zimmerman.

"They've had a virtual revolution in
their family structure", Zimmerman
said after her one and a half week
study tour.

The policies being enacted by the
Swedish Government are probably among
themost progressive in the world, and
they show Canadian legislation lack-
ing in several points, Zimmerman
said.

"We've had some far-reaching legisla-
tion in the past, but we haven't
gone far enough", Zimmerman says.

For example, she cites some statis-
tics on working mothers in Canada as
compared to Sweden.

Currently, about 72 per cent of all
married Swedish women are members of
the paid labor force, while in Canada
this number is closer to 52 per cent.

Overall, about 60.5 per cent of all
Swedish women have paid jobs, with
Canada maintaining a rate of closer
to 50.1 per cent.

 

 

 

"The big difference is that Sweden
has targetted the family and enacted
supportive legislation", Zimmerman
said. "Their basic aim is to create
a good environment for children to
grow up in."

"And the Swedes have really put their
money where their mouth is, unlike
some other countries", she said.

In Sweden, there are three basic
programs to help promote equality
between men and women in participa-
ting in community life and achieving
gainful employment.

Parental insurance is one method of
allowing a parent to work, even ina
one-parent family.

After the birth of a child, either
parent is entitled to take a maximum
of one year off work, at 90 per cent
of full pay, to care for the child at
home. These 12 months can be divided
over any time in the first three
years of the child's life.

|
If a child is ill at any time before
the age of eight years, either parent!
is entitled 60 days peryear off work |
to stay with the child, again at 90
per cent pay.

 

The third piece of parental insurance