Yesterday, the Federal Cabinet approved the draft bill by Family Minister Kristina Schröder (CDU), which provides for a special cash benefit of 150 euros per month from 2013 for parents who do not want their child to attend a daycare center,.
The Humanist Association of Germany (HVD) has spoken out against the introduction of this special cash benefit, which the government has so far assumed will affect around 900,000 cases. Ines Scheibe from the executive committee of the federal association called the CSU’s plans “absurd in terms of equality policy” in a statement by the HVD.
“The regression into a social pre-modern age promoted by this childcare allowance cannot be reconciled with an enlightened and emancipated family and women’s advancement policy. It is purely a patronage measure,” said Scheibe in April.
On June 29, 2012, the parliamentary procedure for the introduction of the new benefit is to be concluded with the third reading in the Bundestag and the law on the introduction of the so-called “childcare allowance” is to be passed.
In order to avert its introduction, the HVD is supporting the cross-party and cross-association campaign “No to childcare allowance”, which aims to give women and families in Germany genuine freedom of choice.
“Real freedom of choice is only possible with good daycare centers and sufficient places,” says the initiative, which calls on members of the federal government and the CDU, CSU and FDP coalitions to reject the childcare allowance and instead invest more money in the expansion of high-quality daycare centers.
In addition, the protest against the introduction of the “childcare allowance” can be supported by signing a corresponding appeal to the governing parties in order to further influence parliamentarians.
Frieder Otto Wolf, President of the Federal Association, pleaded yesterday for participation in the initiative. “Humanists should support them by signing the petition if they also reject these plans. Because in my view, the introduction of such an educational salary is a purely patronage measure and not conducive to an open society.”
