On Wednesday October 15 in Berlin the German Government cabinet gave the green light to a new draft law worked out by Manuela Schwesig (SPD), Minister for Families, entitled: ‘Law for better reconciling family life, care for a dependent parent, and a professional career’, (Gesetz zur besseren Vereinbarkeit von Familie, Pflege und Beruf). This new law should come into force on January 1, 2015. It brings several provisions already in place in other laws all together ‘under one roof’ and strengthens the right for workers to care for a loved one. Going forward, employees will be able to take 10 days paid leave to organize health care for a parent who has suddenly been taken ill. Furthermore they will also be able to reduce their working hours down to a lower limit of 15 hours per week for a period of two years, without requiring the employer’s permission. Although this possibility was already in place it did require the permission of the employer.
Protection from redundancy during the care giving period. This is the second major draft law for the young Families Minister after the first reading in the Bundestag on September 26 of the first draft law on the introduction of the ‘Parental Plus Salary’ (c.f. article No. 8625). During her introduction speech the Social Democrat Minister called attention to the fact that Germany already had 2.6 million people requiring care and that the majority of these were being looked after at home by loved
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