Linke on families

The Left wants to introduce a Kindergrundsicherung (basic child benefit) to fight child poverty. It is to include higher child benefit payments and supplements for single parents and low-income families. According to the program, at least one in six children in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is affected by poverty.

Many children in the state are poor. The Left wants to change that. It wants to introduce a basic child benefit. This is money from the state for all children. The regular child payment should go up. Single parents and poor families should get more.

The benefit is to consist of a higher child benefit and supplements for single parents and low-income families. Housing and heating costs as well as special needs are to be factored in. The party regards child poverty as a structural problem. Participation, education and sports should not depend on parents' income.

The Left wants to introduce a children's card that gives every child up to age 18 a monthly credit of 50 euros. The money is meant to be used for sports, culture and education.

The Left wants a children's card. Every child up to age 18 gets 50 euros a month with it. The money is for sports, culture and education.

The card would be available to all children and teenagers up to their 18th birthday, regardless of their parents' income. The amount is 50 euros per month. It is meant to let them take part in sports, cultural and educational activities.

The Left wants to require municipalities to provide child and youth work and to fund the state youth plan according to need. It also calls for an independent commissioner for children and youth with cabinet rank, children's rights in the Basic Law, and more money for sports.

Towns and cities should have to offer youth work. Today this is voluntary. There should be an independent person for children and youth in the government. Children's rights should be written into the constitution. Sports should also get more money.

An independent commissioner for children and youth would have cabinet rank and binding powers. The law on child and youth participation would be developed further, with yearly reports on young people's living conditions. Youth associations, vacation camps, international exchange and political youth work would be funded, and the recommendations of the inquiry commission "Jung sein in MV" (Being Young in MV) carried out. In sports, programs such as "MV kann schwimmen" (MV can swim) would be fully funded, facilities renovated and federal training centers secured. Sports clubs working with minors would be required to prevent sexualized violence.

The Left wants to introduce 28 days of paid parental leave for the second parent after a birth. Care work is to be shared more fairly between the sexes. Nursery, daycare and after-school care are to remain free of charge.

After a birth, the second parent should also get 28 days off. This time is paid. Women and men should share family work more fairly. Nursery, daycare and after-school care stay free.

At the federal level, the Left wants to push for both parents to take a larger share of parental leave. Returning to work after pregnancy is to become easier, and the right to return to part-time or full-time work stronger. Self-employed women would get maternity protection rules. The public sector is to expand flexible hours and remote work, and daycare hours are to match parents' working hours. Family caregivers would get more advice and relief.