Reconciliation of work and family life

MMM advocates the free choice of mothers and families to opt, at certain moments of their lives, to give priority to their family responsibilities and increase family presence.

Essential for mothers – and for fathers, this free choice is conditioned by the existence of policies to reconcile family life and professional life, which must include, among other things:

  • Child-birth related leave (maternity, paternity, parental leave).
  • Specific leave to deal with situations where assistance and care for relatives are needed.
  • A sufficient level of remuneration for these different types of leave.
  • The development of a diversified offer of childcare infrastructure and services.
  • The generalisation of flexibility in the world of work, not only for women but also for men.

The reconciliation of family and professional life, while being particularly debated at the European level, is an issue for all mothers, whatever their socio-economic and cultural context.

 

Recent news on the reconciliation of work and family life

Parental Leave: A Global Imperative for Gender Equity and Economic Prosperity

25.03.26

UN New York – At the event MMM organised on the margins of the 70th UN Commission on the Status of Women, experts and policymakers converged to argue that parental leave is far more than a workplace benefit

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Job Sharing: A Promising Solution for Working Mothers

24.03.26

By Ariane de Liedekerke, Network Co-ordinator, Make Mothers Matter While many women are still sidelined professionally after becoming mothers, leading to a lose-lose situation, some companies are testing new wa

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Motherhood at Work in the EU
From Biological Protection to Structural Equality

10.03.26

Make Mothers Matter was invited by ETUI to its event: “Gender matters at work: Making the invisible visible” to discuss the issue of motherhood at work in the European Union. During the discussion, we argue

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EU Parliament Anti-Poverty Resolution
A Major Step Forward for Mothers, Families and Children

23.02.26

The European Parliament has adopted its Resolution on a new EU Anti-Poverty Strategy for 2025–2026, following joint work by the EMPL and FEMM Committees. This marks a significant political milestone in the fi

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Enhancing Women’s Equity and Global Development

18.02.26

UN New York - Invitation to MMM side-event to the upcoming 70th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70)

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Maternal Psychological Wellbeing: A Challenge and a Unique Opportunity

13.01.26

Wednesday 28 January 2026 | 15:15 – 17:30 GMT London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) – Live broadcast #MaternalWellbeingLSE Maternal mental health is one of the most pressing - and most overlo

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