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

Belgian Mothers Face Alarming Rates of Burnout and Perinatal Depression, New EU Survey Finds

03.07.25

Belgian mothers are facing a mental health crisis. According to the State of Motherhood in Europe 2024 survey by Make Mothers Matter (MMM) and Kantar, Belgium reports the highest rates of both maternal burnout

Motherhood and Mental Health Under Pressure

03.07.25

Germany – Survey results from Germany reveal a troubling picture: mothers are under intense strain — mentally, economically, and socially.

Recognising Unpaid Care Work and addressing Its Unequal Distribution: A Key Step in Tackling Informal Employment

15.06.25

UN Geneva – At the 113th International Labour Conference (ILC), Make Mothers Matter (MMM) brought the perspectives of mothers and other unpaid caregivers to two key agenda topics: the transition to formal emp

Milestones for Mothers: First Oral Statement and Landmark UN Recognition at CSW69

17.04.25

UN New York – At this year's 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), two significant moments highlighted our ongoing fight for mothers' rights. We emphasised how mothers continue to fac

“Equality in name means nothing without equality in reality”
MEPS Maria Walsh and Eleonora Meleti

07.04.25

With the new Road Map for Gender Equality, the EU acknowledges that gender equality remains a challenge across member states, with women still earning 12.7% less than men and facing greater employment gaps, par

Parental Mental Health Takes Centre Stage at the French National Assembly

02.04.25

Paris, France – On April 2nd, Make Mothers Matter was honoured to have key findings from its State of Motherhood in Europe 2024 report cited at the French National Assembly during a high-level roundtable: “