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

‘How are you, mum (really)?’ A morning at Bordeaux City Hall to break the silence on maternal mental health

24.06.26

By Angela Garcia Romero, Director of Projects at MMM On 29 May, we experienced a truly unique morning—both physically and emotionally: moving, insightful, inspiring—where we, mothers, felt seen and understo

Families as active rights holders:
Quality Family Support in Spain and Europe

15.06.26

On 11 June 2026, Madrid hosted a major national conference dedicated to strengthening quality family support for positive parenting in Spain.

Equal Pay Cannot Wait: Why Every EU Member State Must Implement the Pay Transparency Directive Now

12.06.26

Across Europe, millions of women continue to earn less than men for work of equal value. Behind these statistics are real people — mothers, unpaid carers, and working women who too often face financial disadv

The Motherhood Penalty: The Equality Challenge We Must Address – MMM @ ILC114

11.06.26

At the

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�

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