That’s a no. The Federal Council considers that the initiative on crèches would go against the distribution of tasks in force between the Confederation, the cantons and the municipalities. In addition, if the initiative were to be accepted, it “would result in costs of several billion borne by the Confederation”, indicated the federal authority this Friday. A situation that would be financially complicated, given the deficits in the billions that are looming.
The initiative in a few words
The popular initiative on crèches provides that every child from the age of three months until the end of primary school is able to benefit from institutional extra-family care. Costs for parents would be limited to a maximum of 10% of their income.
That said, the government believes that the financial burden could be reduced through another initiative currently being processed in Parliament. This calls for the Confederation’s current support measures to be long-term. It provides for a “kind of additional family allowance when children are taken care of in an institutional setting”. Thus, this initiative would partly meet the needs of parents, while being in line with the distribution of tasks between the Confederation and the cantons.
The initiative on crèches did not fail to provoke a reaction from our readers. This is particularly the case of this mother from Vaud. She “is lucky to have grandparents” to look after her almost 3-year-old child, three days a week. The other two days, she drops off her toddler in a public daycare, for 125 francs. per day of care, for a total of 1000 fr. per month. A significant amount, certainly, but the problem does not end there according to her: “When we go on vacation, the daycare still charges us 117 francs. per day. And also during public holidays!”
A financial pressure which forces her and her partner not to father a second child. “Society is worried about how we are going to pay the 13th pension but if people no longer have children because of financial concerns such as childcare costs, the problem will be more and more serious,” she laments. . Disappointed by the system, she hopes at least that the initiative will open public debate on the issue.
