The Urgent Need for Revaluation and Support of Early Childhood Childcare Workers in Wallonia-Brussels Federation

2023-10-04 11:37:00

The children’s sector, unions and employers’ federations united, pitched the tent of a “surgical center for childcare workers” in front of the buildings of the Wallonia Brussels Federation, Place Surlet de Chokier in Brussels. In this “center”, workers in the early childhood sector, who were insufficient in number compared to the needs and the number of places, came “have extra arms transplanted” in order to be able to multiply in the exercise of their tasks.

The sector is seriously understaffed and this is what the workers’ representatives, as well as the employers’ federations, wanted to underline through this action at a time when the government is regarding to begin budgetary control.

Recalling the triple economic role (allowing parents to work), educational and social (aiming for diversity and the socialization of children) of childcare and therefore the fundamental function it plays in society, the Representatives of the sector have called for an urgent revaluation of the profession, not just financially.

“Few young people still choose this profession and many existing childcare workers are thinking regarding retraining”explains Stéphanie Parmentier, CNE national secretary for the non-commercial. “We need urgent and rapid measures to attract young people to this profession and give experienced childcare workers the means to do their job in good conditions.”

“Unions and employers are on the same wavelength in these demands,” underlines Frédéric Horsch of Unessa, a multi-sectoral federation of structures active in reception. “We are asking to move to the standard of 1.5 (full-time equivalent) childcare workers for 7 children (provided for in the Cigogne plan, editor’s note). The situation is serious. If nothing changes, in 2024, certain public structures will perhaps have to be closed. Never seen before in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

In Flanders, for example, a childcare worker takes care of 5 children. The retirement age is another problem denounced by professionals. “Keeping older staff in the sector is a challenge since for aging staff looking following children or playing with them becomes more complicated from a certain age”, indicates Eric Dubois, CGSLB sector manager.

The profession no longer attracts. The scales pose a particular problem with salary differences between players in the sector. “Whether you are a childcare worker in hospitals or in a nursery, it’s not the same scale. It’s something we’re going to fight for”says Aurélie Verleyen, the secretary of a nursery in Gosselies.

“What makes working conditions difficult is quite simply that there are not enough workers. We had to implement better subsidies for municipal reception centers. We had to do it,” adds Florence Couldrey, the alderman of Auderghem’s early childhood.

This Wednesday morning, 4 municipal daycare centers kept their doors closed in La Louvière. The sector is hoping for quick solutions. Another demonstration is already planned for October 20.

early childhood childcare workers wallonia federation brussels
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