The extra -family reception will be supported in Switzerland via a new childcare allowance for children up to eight years. The National validated Tuesday this model proposed by the Council of States. However, it is due to programs and federal aid conventions. The current federal support program for extra -family reception, in force since 2003, will end at the end of 2026. Parliament is looking for longer -term solutions.
The National adopted in March 2023 a solution involving federal funding. But the Federal Council was against, finding it too expensive. The Council of States also opposed it last December. Instead, he accepted another project, with a new childcare allowance based on the model of family allowances and funded by the cantons, without federal aid. In this context, the Cantons Chamber rejected the continuation of the programs agreements currently in place with the cantons.
The People’s House is due to these conventions, by 109 votes to 82. It also decided to allocate federal aid of 200 million francs over four years. Conventions must promote the development of children’s reception offers and for children with disabilities as well as the development of the early childhood encouragement policy. The National has included measures aimed at improving the quality of offers in its educational and structural aspects, as well as allowing better conciliation between family life and professional life.
Up to eight
The left failed to go further in the project. At the other end of the political spectrum, the UDC and a part of the PLR opposed in vain to the conventions and to the federal aid. Interior minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider was also against these programs conventions. In the event of the prosecution of these, she asked that they have “a certain substance”.
-Also without success, the UDC and the PLR have positioned themselves against the new childcare allowance. This must be paid to parents carrying out a lucrative activity for children up to eight years which are taken care of in an institutional framework, such as a crèche or an extracurricular service. The allowance is also planned for parents without lucrative activity if they are in training or in continuing education.
This institutional framework must be found in Switzerland and a national language must be spoken there, said the chamber of cantons. That of the people refused these conditions, according to the minister. A dispute with the EU is not excluded on this subject, as part of the application of the agreement on the free movement of people, warned Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. The allowance must amount to at least 100 francs per month and be increased by 50 francs for each half-day of additional guard. The left failed to limit parents’ participation to a maximum of 10% of income.
For children with disabilities, the aid must be once and a half times higher when the costs linked to the specific management are higher, decided the Council of States. The National estimated that this aid should be once and a half times higher in these cases. However, he refused a request from the left aimed at submitting a similar concept for children under 18 months old, with support once and a half. The National has still rejected other proposals on both left and right.
