Childcare 'provides balance'

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) saidthat establishing the right work/life balance policies will reduce childpoverty, promote child development and stem the fall in birth rates.

The OECD has published a comparison of the 30 OECD countries' policieson balancing work and family life. In many countries, female employmentis seen as key to maintaining economic growth. In the UK the aim is toreach a female employment rate of 60 per cent by 2010.

In the UK, while Government spending on families had increased by almosta third since 1997, some outcomes still remained poor.

Mark Pearson, head of social policy division at the OECD, said, 'First,it might be too early to say - we shouldn't expect instant results insuch a complex area. Second, they have done very well in reducing childpoverty. This is admirable, and the Government probably doesn't get thecredit it deserves in this area. Other countries do look enviously atthe recent UK record in reducing child poverty.'

But he added that some 'good policies' had gone wrong.

'Sure Start was a great programme when it was targeted on disadvantagedchildren or areas,' he said. 'But there was no good case for goingnational with it, and it diluted the effectiveness of theprogramme.'

He also said that the UK lacked a 'system' because access to the earlyyears entitlement did not 'kick in' until children were two or threeyears old. 'What are families expected to do in the gap between the endof leave and the beginning of free nursery care? Many will feel there islittle choice but for one parent - nearly always the mother - to put hercareer on hold.'

The report found Denmark and Sweden to have the best work/life balance,with affordable childcare and out-of-school care widely available. Koreaand Japan had the worst balance, with women not recruited intofast-stream careers because of an assumption they would leave the labourmarket when they have children. This led to low birth rates, lowemployment rates and fathers having little time with their children.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Babies and Bosses: Reconciling Work and Family Life - A synthesis offindings for OECD countries, at www.oecd.org.