Chancellor Stocker's Remarks on Unpaid Childcare Spark Outrage

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker has ignited controversy during his summer tour with a statement suggesting that unpaid childcare should not be considered "work." The remark came during a discussion in Salzburg with approximately 200 citizens, selected by pollster Peter Hajek.

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I would not see childcare as work, I tell you honestly.

Responding to a question about women performing an average of 96 hours of unpaid childcare per week, Stocker stated, "I would not see childcare as work, I tell you honestly." He elaborated that family, in his view, is not an economic performance but rather a matter of mutual responsibility and acting without expectation of payment. "Family should not be counted as paid work. If we see families as a 'business case,' if we understand families as a calculation example, then that is a different image of the family than the one I have," the Chancellor added, noting, "I did not raise my children as a calculation example."

The Chancellor's remarks were met with some jeers from the audience and immediate political backlash. Leonore Gewessler, leader of the Green Party, accused Stocker of mocking the unpaid work of mothers and implicitly called for an apology. The event was part of Stocker's tour across Austria, aimed at gathering citizens' concerns to inform government work in the fall.

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Family should not be counted as paid work. If we see families as a 'business case,' if we understand families as a calculation example, then that is a different image of the family than the one I have.

Critics argue that Stocker's comments dismiss the significant labor and dedication involved in raising children, which disproportionately falls on women. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the value of unpaid domestic labor and its recognition within society and economic policy. The selection process for the 200 participants in the discussion event had previously drawn criticism from the FPÖ party.

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I did not raise my children as a calculation example.