Equal opportunity

As part of the Erasmus+ project "Work at all Costs?", the issue of precarious employment conditions for women in Europe is being highlighted. A striking example is the story of Natalie from Aachen. The single mother juggles the challenges of her daily work routine: childcare, household chores, and the constant worry about her professional future. Her employer, a drugstore chain, wants to assign her more shifts during unsociable hours – a demand that is difficult for Natalie, working part-time at 85%, to reconcile with her child's care schedule. While these working conditions are not legally considered discrimination, Natalie is dependent on the job and finds herself in a desperate situation.

Natalie’s story is far from unique. Many women across Europe are in similarly precarious employment situations, as highlighted by the Erasmus+ project. Over the course of 30 months, trade unions and educational institutions in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, and Italy have documented the realities faced by these women, compiling their stories into a film, book, and educational videos. The film, now available on YouTube, aims to raise awareness of these issues.