The German government must offer incentives for parents to ensure care work is more fairly distributed between women and men, a top trade union official has demanded.

Yasmin Fahimi, head of the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB), told the Tagesspiegel newspaper in comments released on Monday that fathers in Germany should receive more paid parental leave, including 10 days off following the birth of a child.

In Germany, two partners can in total receive up to 14 months of parental allowance while taking parental leave. One partner can receive the parental allowance for up to 12 months. If the other partner also takes time off work for childcare, this only extends the total amount of time that parents can receive the allowance by two months – often referred to in Germany as the “father months.”

Fahimi’s proposal came after new Labour Minister Bärbel Bas told the Sunday edition of the Bild newspaper that better working conditions must be created for women to raise employment levels.

“Employers must organize the world of work in such a way that more mothers can work full-time,” Bas said.

The trade union leader praised Bas’ suggestion but warned that women still carry out a far higher proportion of unpaid care work.

“Ultimately, it remains the case that the organization of working hours is a highly individual decision, and that more incentives are needed for a better division between the sexes,” said Fahimi.

-dpa