Government parties open for proposals to make it easier to care for sick children

A citizen proposal to give parents the opportunity to care for their children until they are well, has gained momentum.

Within three days, it has reached 50,000 signatures (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/regionale/fyn/borgerforslag-buldrer-igennem-vil-aendre-maaden-vi-har-barn-syg-paa) , which is needed for Folketinget to take a stance on the proposal.

And more parties are also on board with the idea.

Both Alternativet and Enhedslisten support the proposal, and when a similar proposal was considered in Folketinget in 2021, the two parties, along with SF, who are also positively inclined towards the proposal, voted for it.

- We already do this. So, who hasn't taken time off from work because the little one has a fever?, says Alternativet's labor market and employment spokesperson Torsten Gejl.

Positive tones are also heard from the government party Venstre this time.

- It looks interesting, says the party's employment spokesperson, Kim Valentin.

- In general, our young families are under pressure. It's due to various reasons, but one of them is that one is pressured at work when one's child is sick, he says.

However, he will not yet make a clear statement on whether Venstre will support the proposal.

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About the citizen proposal

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With the citizen proposal, a change in the law is proposed, which will ensure the child's right to be cared for at home by a parent/primary caregiver during acute illness throughout the entire illness period.

The proposal takes inspiration from the Swedish model, VAB (vård av barn), where a parent has the right to stay home and care for their sick child until the child is well again. VAB is a well-documented arrangement, which supports the child's welfare and increases the well-being for both children and parents.

With reference to the Swedish model, parents with a sick child under 12 years old have the right to economic compensation of up to 80% instead of salary during absence. The compensation is financed by a state fund, which both employers and wage earners contribute to.

Source: Borgerforslag.dk (https://borgerforslag.dk/se-og-stoet-forslag/?Id=FT-20035)

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Large budget calculation

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As for the other government parties, there is no clear rejection.

Labor Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (S) would like to take the discussion about how to improve conditions for families on the labor market.

But she will not make a clear statement on whether she will vote for or against the proposal.

- It's both a very large budget calculation, and there's something fundamental about whether we just with a pen stroke should put it on Christiansborg as legislation, or whether we should continue to hold that in Denmark it is through agreements, one prioritizes and negotiates working conditions, says Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen.

Read also: Free to care for your grandchild or sick mother: 'Historic rights' are on their way to 230,000 industrial workers (https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/penge/fri-til-passe-dit-barnebarn-eller-syge-mor-historiske-rettigheder-er-paa-vej-til)

The citizen proposal suggests the creation of a fund, which will provide economic compensation, equivalent to 80% of the parent's salary, in the event that one's child under 12 years old is sick.

It is inspired by the Swedish rules, where each parent can take 60 days a year with a sick child. In Sweden, there is also a ceiling on how high a salary one can receive compensation for while away.

Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen (S) will not consider voting for the proposal until she knows where the money for it will come from:

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