Social policy with a focus on parenthood is needed to address the low birth-rate

 

Statement by Evanthia Savva, Head of Social Policy Sector of AKEL and member of the Central Committee

9 December 2023, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Cyprus ranks last in the EU in terms of births, with a birth rate of just 1.3%, while in order to replenish the population every 25 years this rate should exceed 2%. This reality was acknowledged by President Christodoulides in his statements yesterday.

The decline in births in our country, which has led to the aggravation of the demographic problem in recent years, is the result of a socio-economic reality and the lack of vision and planning by the state for the family, parenthood and children. This is evidenced by the state’s social protection expenditure on the family and children, which for Cyprus is below half of the EU average, according to the most recent figures released.

The campaign that AKEL is currently organizing, “Young Parents at the Forefront”, focuses precisely on the major shortcomings in infrastructures, policies and resources that ought to meet the needs and obligations of young parents, especially working parents. Within the framework of the campaign, AKEL has submitted a package of proposals for a modern and progressive social policy for children and the family based on the following key pillars:

• A comprehensive network of public and quality childcare infrastructures (crèches/childcare centres)
• Drastic improvements in the framework for maternity, paternity, parental leave etc., such as the recently tabled AKEL proposal to extend the time for taking parental leave until the 15th year of each child, instead of the current 8 years.
• With quality and affordable health services for mothers and children
• With regulations that embrace and support vulnerable groups, of the population, single parents, large families, parents of children with disabilities or disabled parents

Our campaign for young parents is essentially a dialogue with society on all the concerns and difficulties that young parents and young couples face in beginning a family.

The link to the brochure with AKEL’s proposals:

https://akel.org.cy/neoi-goneis-se-proto-plano-2/