Swiss parliament approves allowance for childcare

Swiss parliament approves allowance for childcare

The cost of daycare in Switzerland will be alleviated via a new childcare allowance for children up to the age of eight.

According to the National Council, the federal government is to contribute to the costs of daycare places in the future – despite the sluggish federal budget.

Those who have their child cared for in an institution receive subsidies – no matter how much their workload is. That is what the National Council has decided. The new social benefit costs an estimated 700 million Swiss francs a year.

Children's day facilities face major challenges: high downtime, limited pedagogical work, group closures and reduced opening hours are increasingly burdening the system. In exchange with members of the state parliament of Leipzig, officials and...

On Tuesday, the National Council approved the model proposed by the Council of States concerning extra-family care, even if there were still differences. The allowance would be financed by the cantons and employers to reduce the burden on parents who have children at the crèche, for example.

The National Council supported the new Kita funding on Tuesday. Specifically, parents should receive CHF 100 a month per day of care per week.