Given the mentality in Kosovo, where traditional roles are aligned in such a way that women are still seen as primary caregivers and men as breadwinners, it inevitably causes women to not participate in the labor market. This was one of the key issues discussed at the Tuesday Salon held on 27 November in Prishtina, with a specific focus on the topic: “The equal share in child care: Paid parental leave as necessity!”
Throughout the discussion, an emphasis was set on the actual maternal leave system which does not satisfy for the demands of the Kosovar population since it enables the leave only for mothers in the format of maternal leave, it does not foresee parental leave, and disables fathers/parents from taking a greater portion of paternity or parental leave.
Practice in other countries and environments has proven that parental leave has a positive effect on encouraging women to re-enter the workplace after pregnancy, as well as on the child’s overall development. Panelists and participants ultimately agreed that parental leave could create a valuable, positive effect for the society by offering paid parental leave, and as a result – promoting gender equality.
Part of the panel were: Leonora Lokaj, Vice-President, BSPK; Besnik Salihu, Father of the year 2017; Ajete Kërqeli, Project Manager, D4D Institute. The Salon was be moderated by Dita Dobranja, Advanced Researcher, Riinvest Institute, and the op-ed will be written by Doruntina Baliu, Investigative Journalist, BIRN.