On 4 November 2014, Parliamentary State Secretary Anette Kramme welcomed a group of Japanese and South Korean parliamentarians to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (BMAS). The purpose of the meeting was twofold, namely to discuss issues of labour market and social policy and to strengthen bilateral relations.
The compatibility of family and professional life formed the focal point of the visitors’ interest. "In recent years, we have gone to great lengths to increase female participation in the workforce in Germany, for example. However, this is an area in which Germany can improve still further", underlined State Secretary Kramme, pointing to the various government measures designed to achieve this objective. The participants also engaged in specific talks regarding further developments in legislation governing part-time work as well as the law recently passed by the Cabinet on improving the balance between work, family life and caring for relatives.
The delegation from Japan and the Republic of Korea is in Berlin as part of the Federal Republic of Germany’s guest programme, and is paying a visit to various institutions.