For example, as the magazine "Europa" reports, in Germany in 2000 the average monthly net income of a family (or, as it is customary to call it in Europe, a household) amounted to €2,583. For a married couple with children under 18, this figure is noticeably higher - €3,499.
You guessed correctly - the difference in income is made up thanks to various state payments. The authorities are well aware that this difference hardly fully compensates for all expenses on children, but nevertheless they consider themselves obliged to lend a helping hand so that an addition to the family does not radically worsen its financial situation.
In the most difficult situation, as one might expect, are single parents: their average monthly income is €1,777. It is no wonder that up to a third of such families are considered in Germany to be living in relative poverty. Here it should be clarified that we are talking only about one side of this multifaceted social concept - insufficient income. The European Union has adopted the following criterion: members of a family whose total income is less than 50% of the national average are considered relatively poor. In Germany as a whole, such households amount to 9.1%. Among parents raising children alone, as we see, this sad indicator is more than three times higher.
Experts analyzing statistical indicators of recent years come to a disappointing conclusion: for children, the risk of finding themselves in poverty is becoming ever greater. Among the main reasons for this harmful trend, they cite the growth of unemployment, the increase in the number of divorces and mothers giving birth out of wedlock, the influx of immigrant families with low incomes, the rise in the cost of living, which the incomes of large families cannot keep up with. Suffice it to say that only vital expenses, for example, for two children amount to 854 euros per month in Germany. So it turns out that the share of the family budget spent on these purposes ranges from 16% (a couple with one child) to 41% (one parent with two children).
Another reason for insufficient incomes in some German families is that the mother would be glad to go to work to help the family, but she cannot leave the children unattended.
Are there really no kindergartens and nurseries in the country? Of course, there are! Moreover, if you look at the overall figures, they may seem quite prosperous: in 47.3 thousand children's institutions of the Federal Republic of Germany there are 3.1 million places. The first doubts begin to creep in when you learn that these indicators have remained unchanged since 1998. But as soon as you familiarize yourself with the data for various categories, you see that things are far from brilliant. Especially lacking are nurseries - institutions capable of accepting children from one to three years old. Only nine out of a hundred German toddlers can attend them.
With kindergartens, the situation is incomparably better, but here too demand is not satisfied. Places in kindergartens are enough for only 90% of preschoolers from 3 to 6.5 years old. With after-school institutions where schoolchildren from 6.5 to 10 years old could be accepted, there is another failure: they are enough for only 14% of children.
It is worth noting that all the mentioned indicators would look much sadder if it were not for the legacy of the GDR, which had an extensive system of children's institutions that has been preserved to a certain extent to this day. In the western part of the country it was developed incomparably worse, including because previously a working man could on average provide his family with a sufficient standard of living. Now Germans admit in private conversations that it is very difficult for one worker to support a family with children, and for many mothers work is not a whim but a harsh necessity. Especially if the husband is not a prosperous businessman but an ordinary employee, of whom there are a majority in any country.
But, of course, breaks associated with the birth of children negatively affect women's professional careers. And despite the fact that during the 80s and 90s of the last century the so-called gender gap - the difference between the share of working men and the same indicator for women - continued to narrow, it is still far from ideal. Of course, in Germany things are not as sad as in Italy, Spain or Greece, where this figure hovers around 35%, but it is also still far from the rosy seven Finnish or four Swedish percent. With 16%, Germany occupies a firm place in the middle of the European table, which continues to serve as a constant irritant for German feminists.
However, it would be unfair to say that the German government does not pay attention to this topic, nor to paint the situation exclusively in black colors. Firstly, a comprehensive social reform is currently underway in the country, in accordance with which, in particular, the system of children's institutions is being restructured. The goal of the transformations is to make qualitative improvements, but quantitative indicators are also not forgotten: in the western federal states, for example, 230 thousand places in nurseries are to be created. In general, the reform of children's institutions "costs" €1.5 billion, most of which is allocated from the federal budget, and the rest from state budgets.
Secondly, at the third stage of the tax reform, which came into force at the beginning of this year, for families with children and people with low salaries, income tax is reduced to 15%. For example, for a worker's family with two children and €30 thousand annual gross income, more so-called child money will now be paid than it will give to the Ministry of Finance in income tax.
Thirdly, supplementary payments to single parents have been somewhat increased, and a number of restrictions that excluded some incomplete families from this number have been lifted.
Furthermore, one cannot fail to mention the law "On the Protection of Motherhood," which has been in effect in the country for many years and has once again undergone significant changes during the reforms. It applies to all women working for hire, including part-time or from home. However, it does not cover housewives, independent entrepreneurs, and adoptive mothers. It is worth noting that violations of this law by employers are punishable by a fine of 15 thousand euros, and in severe cases, by imprisonment for up to one year.
In accordance with this document, a pregnant woman cannot be dismissed from work under any circumstances, and the contract signed with her cannot be terminated even in the event of the enterprise's insolvency. If the employer nevertheless decides to go against the law and refuses the services of such an employee, he is still obliged to pay her wages, especially since this case in court is a sure win for the expectant mother.
A pregnant woman can take time off at any moment if she needs to visit a gynecologist - for example, to determine the sex of the child or to undergo a routine examination. A woman also cannot be dismissed when she decides to use the legally granted period for child care after giving birth. It amounts to two years and can be taken all at once or in parts.
At the workplace, the employer is obliged to create certain conditions for the expectant mother. For example, so that she, if her health condition, confirmed by a doctor, so requires, can lie down for a while in a separate room during a break. Naturally, the working conditions of a pregnant woman are comprehensively checked by the relevant authorities in terms of electrical, magnetic, vibration, and noise safety.
Furthermore, it is forbidden to require the expectant mother to perform work involving the constant repeated manual lifting of weights over 5 kg or a one-time lift over 10 kg. It is also forbidden to perform operations that require frequent bending or staying in a stooped position. After the fifth month of pregnancy, she cannot spend more than four hours on her feet at work. Of course, night shifts and overtime are not allowed in any way.
Now about the financial parameters of this law. If a woman cannot perform her previous work during pregnancy, her average earnings (not the salary, but earnings including bonuses, premiums, and additional payments!) are retained for her regardless of anything. She will receive the same amount during the 12 weeks of prenatal and postnatal leave, and in addition, she will be paid about €400 from the insurance fund for each month. Needless to say, the same fund will pay for the services of doctors, midwives, medication costs, and fulfill everything else provided for by the terms of health insurance.
In addition, the expectant mother is entitled to average earnings for 13 months, and during parental leave she will also receive the so-called Erziehungsgeld ('child-raising money', the amount of which is regulated by a separate law).
But that's not all. There is also a payment called 'child money'. All families receive it without exception, and it is calculated very simply: €154 per month for each child under the age of 18. And starting from the fourth child, even more - €179 monthly. In addition, as a result of the reforms being carried out, another type of assistance is provided for families with insufficient income - a 'child supplement'. It can amount to up to €140 per month for each minor family member.
Agree, it is rather difficult to accuse the German state of shirking its social obligations towards families with children. Could it do even more? Of course! But, as is well known, there is no limit to perfection.