Germany: Changes in care scheme will give employees rights to time off

After some 18 months of intense debate, in October 2007 the cabinet agreed changes in the financing of the state scheme for long-term dependant care (Pflegeversicherung), which will raise contribution rates, improve and reorganise care provision, and grant employees statutory time-off rights.

The scheme, which is part of statutory social insurance, provides resources for the care of some 2 million people, of whom 700,000 live in nursing homes, with the remainder cared for at home by professional carers or relatives.