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Financial support of 4.5 million will lead to significant relief for 30,000 families with children in subsidized childcare facilities.
The subsidies from the Confederation will lighten the bill for parents with children in non-family childcare facilities.
Magali Girardin/City of Geneva
Vaudois parents with children in subsidized daycare centres, smile! In November 2022, the bill for your child’s place in a reception structure will drop by 20%. Announced on Tuesday by the Vaud Foundation for Day Care for Children (FAJE), this boost was made possible thanks to a federal grant of 4.5 million francs. This policy concerns approximately 30,000 Vaud families for a total of 46,000 children welcomed.
“Since 2011, the FAJE has increased its subsidy rate for any childcare network that grants a reduction on the bill for parents placing several children. The exceptional drop in November will affect all parents whose children are in subsidized childcare facilities, ”says Sylvie Lacoste, general secretary of the FAJE. “If the amounts paid by the Confederation allow it, this operation could be renewed in 2023”, she added.
180 million Berne francs over five years
The policy of encouraging a reduction in the bill for day care networks will be continued by the FAJE, which will increase subsidies thanks to the money received from the Confederation.
The cantons and municipalities that subsidize childcare receive financial support from Bern. This five-year incentive policy (2018-2023) of the Confederation aims to reduce childcare costs for parents so that they can combine professional and family life. By 2023, some 180 million francs will be spent on this incentive program.
A parliamentary initiative in the National Council proposes to replace the time-limited federal subsidy system with “sustainable support aimed at significantly reducing the contributions paid by parents and improving early childhood education, so as to increase the chances development of children and to improve the balance between family life and professional life”.
Parliamentary work is underway for long-term assistance to reduce parental fees and improve the quality of care. However, the drafting of this new law will not be completed before the expiry of the existing incentive scheme. This sustained aid could see the light of day between 2024 and 2025.
(apn)