The debate is hardening around the introduction of the two-week paternity leave, presented in Parliament on May 12 by the Groenlinks Green Party, with the support of the Socialist Party (SP) and the Christen Unie's orthodox Christians. The Labor Party wants more flexible hours for employees with children. Employers refuse to see the paternity leave go from two days to two weeks. (Ref. 080505)
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Agnes Jongerius, general secretary of the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV – the country’s largest trade union confederation), pleaded for “fathers’ rights” in a country where gender equality prevails and the birth rate is sluggish, on May 14, in a column published in the Trouw daily. “When women have children, they usually give away one and a half year of their career” recalled Agnes Jongerius. Indeed, most Dutch women stop working after their first child is born. No less than 36% of women wi

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