Nestlé introduces Parental leave for all

The food company Nestlé for its world-about 300'000 people paid the family a time of up to 18 weeks. The new minimum standard to be implemented by the end of 2022.

the aim of the measure is to promote the reconciliation of work and family, such as Nestlé announced on Wednesday. The new model is gender-neutral and also applies to families who adopt a child or a nursing child.

Specifically, we want to come for all workers that apply, such as mothers, according to Nestlé as "primary caregivers", in the world, a fully paid Parental leave of 18 weeks to train. "Secondary caregivers" are, in most cases, the fathers will get four weeks fully paid Parental leave.

Disputed paternity leave

In Switzerland, to seats the new Standards are already in mid-2020 for all locations, including Administrative, factories and research centres to apply. So far, Nestlé granted in this country for 16 weeks fully paid maternity leave and 5 days paid paternity leave. Nestlé employs in Switzerland according to the information 9'666 employees and operates 11 plants and 4 research centres.

by Law 14 weeks of maternity leave, shall apply in Switzerland. A statutory paternity leave or Parental leave are not yet available.

In September, the Parliament decided on a two-week paternity leave. In November, a civil Committee has taken the Referendum on the grounds that the responsibility lies with families and not with the company. The mainly male Committee of former and current SVP and FDP parliamentarians expressed also concerns about the impact of paternity leave on the competitiveness of Switzerland as a business location.

parents time against the shortage of skilled workers

in Contrast, the Association of "Angestellte Schweiz is expressed" positively about the step of Nestlé: "We welcome this measure in principle because it goes exactly in the direction of our request for a parental leave," said spokesman Hans-jörg Schmid at the request of the news Agency AWP.

The Association is calling for a parental leave of 14 weeks for both parents: "A two-week paternity leave, missed the equality, reconciliation of family and labour market objectives, and cemented an outdated division of roles between the parents," said the statement.

To tell the motives of Nestlé, the Association spokesman, that all the company wanted to keep good employees and gain: "With the offer of parental leave the group makes for an attractive employer," said Schmid. The shortage of skilled workers is an additional factor.

SAV regulations

The Confederation of Swiss employers (SAV) provides the example of Nestlé confirmed that the employers "were in the context of its operational possibilities," ready to bear the reconciliation of work and family.

"in view of the acute labour and skills shortage, companies from the private drive to find solutions," said Daniella lützel Schwab, head of the labour market and labour law at the SAV on request.

It is important, therefore, to maintain the space for the company's own solutions. Legal unit rules, but were to reject, as lützel Schwab stressed. This went to the detriment of the wage costs for all workers and employers. (Dec/sda)

Created: 04.12.2019, 15:04 PM