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Public Policy Index for Over 100 Nations
Below is a list of policies included in the Work, Family, and Equity Index. The Role of Equity We believe it is critical that countries’ performance on this Index be measured against criteria of equity. In assessing a country’s policies as they relate to working families, it is essential to know whether the policies are equally available and affordable to men and women, across social class, generations, and across the diverse demographic groups that compose a given society. It is equally essential to be certain that making use of these policies does not disadvantage or lead to discrimination against caregivers. The policies promoted by this Index can help countries to promote equality. If women have leave when their children are sick, they will not lose their jobs when faced with an impossible choice—caring for their child or earning the income necessary to feed and house themselves and their families. If poor families have access to quality childcare and early education, their children will be better equipped to break the poverty cycle. Addressing the needs of all working families is central to addressing social inequalities—particularly those of gender and class. 1. Paid leave for childbearing and childrearing Adequate paid leave for childbirth and childrearing (maternity, paternity, or parental leave) is available to all working adults in a manner that allows them to care for infants and toddlers, maintain job security, and continue to financially contribute to the support of their family. 2. Infant and toddler care High-quality care for children during the first three years of life is available, affordable, accessible, and provided by well-trained staff in safe and nurturing settings, and paid parental leave is available. 3. Early childhood education and care High-quality early childhood education is widely available, affordable, and accessible to all children between 3 and 5 years of age. 4. Working adults’ availability to provide routine care for children Policies exist that assure that all children have a parent or other adult guardian available to support their educational, emotional and developmental progress during non-school hours (including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays). Policies exist to assure that adults can afford necessities and attain a decent standard of living on a reasonable number of hours of paid work. 5. Educational opportunities and supervision for school-age children throughout the day High-quality educational and/or enrichment opportunities throughout the full day are available, accessible and affordable for all school-age children. 6. Educational opportunities and supervision for school-age children throughout the year High-quality educational and/or enrichment opportunities throughout the full year are available, accessible and affordable for all school-age children. 7. Paid leave and flexibility for children’s educational needs Adequate paid leave is available to all working adults when they need to attend to a child’s educational or developmental needs. 8. Paid leave and flexibility for children’s health needs Adequate paid leave is available to all working adults when they need to meet the preventive or curative health needs of a child on a routine or intermittent basis. 9. Access of children with special needs and disabilities to equal
educational opportunities Access of children with special needs to educational and community activities is facilitated by policies and programs that promote full participation in these activities. Health care and developmental assistance for children with special needs is available, accessible and affordable on a routine, intermittent, or extended basis, as needed by the child. 11. Access of adults with disabilities to equal employment
opportunities Policies and programs exist to protect adults with disabilities who are able and willing to work from discrimination in employment practices including hiring, training, and promotion, and to support their participation in the workforce. Access of adults with disabilities to family and community activities is facilitated by policies and programs that decrease barriers and support full participation in these activities. 14. Access of older adults to equal employment opportunities Policies and programs exist to protect older persons who are able and willing to work from age-based discrimination in employment practices including hiring, training, and promotion and to support their participation. Access of older adults to family and community activities is facilitated by policies and programs that decrease barriers and support full participation. Health supports for older adults are available, accessible and affordable on a routine, intermittent, or extended basis, as needed. 17. Policies to meet basic needs of those unable to work The basic needs of disabled or older adults who are unable to work are met through policies that guarantee adequate economic support such as old-age and disability pensions. 18. Working adults’ availability to provide routine care for older and disabled family members Policies exist that assure that working adults have adequate time to care for older or disabled family members if needed when other care is unavailable, such as during evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays. Policies exist to assure that adults can afford necessities and attain a decent standard of living on a reasonable number of hours of paid work. 19. Paid leave and flexibility for adult family members’ health and other essential needs Adequate paid leave is available to all working adults when they need to attend to an older or disabled adult’s preventive and curative health and basic care needs. Discretionary paid leave and paid leave for family events is available to all working adults to attend to other essential family needs. 20. Paid leave for personal health needs Adequate paid leave is available to all working adults to attend to personal health needs.
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This page is maintained by The Project on Global Working Families. Copyright 2002 by the
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