Selective and Inclusive Trends in Childcare Policies and Their Impacts on Work-Care Practices in Czechia in Comparative Perspective

The research team examines selective and inclusive trends in childcare policies in Czechia over the past 25 years and their impact on parents’ work-care practices in European comparative contexts. Using a mixed-methods approach, the team assess the role of discursive framings in policy shifts, the experiences of marginalised caregivers, the intersection of caregiving and labour market insecurity, and the extent to which Czechia follows European trends. Through a qualitative analysis of policy framings, interviews with marginalised caregivers, and a statistical analysis of international time-series surveys on attitudes and work-care practices over the last 25 years, the team explains how childcare policies intersect with labour-market precarity and marginalise some caregivers. Comparative analyses with Slovakia, Hungary, and Lithuania provide insight into regional dynamics and enhance understanding of the relationships among childcare policies, attitudes, and work-care practices.