Gewessler: Child care is the real part-time problem in Austria!

Gewessler: Child care is the real part-time problem in Austria!

Leonore Gewessler, leader of the Green Party, appeared as the voice of her party in the recent ORF summer talk and reflected on her time as a minister in the previous turquoise-green government. Gewessler describes her term in office as a success, but admits that she did not deal with financial policy in her role because she was “not finance minister for a second.” Instead, she focused on climate and nature conservation and also plans to speak out on other topics.

Including this conversation, Gewessler criticized the ongoing part-time debate that is currently dividing the ÖVP and the coalition. She described the discussion as “unspeakable” and accused the ÖVP of having neglected the expansion of child care in the past. Gewessler argued that there is not just a “part-time problem, but a childcare problem” in Austria. Using the positive example of Vienna, she outlined that there is both good child care and a high part-time rate there.

Demand for child care

The Greens support the debate about part-time work, but call for nationwide, all-day childcare options. Barbara Neßler, the family spokeswoman for the Green Party, was critical and described the discussion as “hypocritical” without an appropriate care offer. This was supported by current figures collected by the Greens on the compatibility of childcare offerings with parents' working hours. This analysis is based on the work-life balance indicator (VIF), which indicates whether childcare offers enable full-time work for parents who work at least 9.5 hours a day and 45 hours a week.

According to this green analysis, only 63 percent of childcare options for zero to two year olds are VIF compliant. Over a third of the offers do not allow parents to work full-time, which further exacerbates the problem. Gewessler stands by her call for a further expansion of childcare in order to create a better balance between work and family.

Political responsibility and finding compromises

With regard to the political landscape, Gewessler expressed her view on the ÖVP's decision to rule out a coalition with the Greens in the 2024 National Council election. She does not see this as her responsibility, but emphasizes that the ÖVP decided to work with the SPÖ and NEOS in order to implement its own program more easily.

In response to the ÖVP's allegations that measures such as replacing the boiler had contributed to a budget deficit, Gewessler replied that this was a search for a "scapegoat". She stressed the need to fight against dependence on Russian gas, noting that cheap energy is a key issue for the economy.

She also admitted that certain measures, such as the rent cap, should have been implemented earlier, but sees the turquoise-green government as successful overall. With regard to the need to consolidate the budget after crises, she criticized cuts in climate measures and warned that the climate goals by 2030 could not be achieved in this way.

The discussion about the part-time debate and the need for a comprehensive expansion of childcare are central issues that shape the Greens' political agenda and could be crucial for future cooperation with other parties.

For more detailed information, read the reports Pulse24 and the The press.