The Flemish government has OKed a first series of reforms to childcare. An additional 10,000 affordable childcare places will be created across northern Belgium, including some 850 places in Dutch-speaking childcare facilities in Brussels. Childminders are getting an improved job status and will in future enjoy full employee status. The planned reform of parental contributions will be postponed until 2026.
The Flemish government that is also responsible for Flemish childcare in the capital last week reached agreement on the first instalment of reforms to childcare.
The majority of places, around 6,000 places, will be income-related. Here, parents will pay a contribution in proportion to their income. ‘Any city or municipality can sign up,’ the Flemish well-being minister Caroline Gennez (Socialist Vooruit) clarified. ‘In doing so, we will give priority to regions where the need is greatest.’
850 extra places in Brussels
The areas with the biggest shortages - Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent - are given priority. Brussels will get 850 extra reception places, 450 of which are income-related, Flemish minister for Brussels Cieltje Van Achter (Flemish nationalist N-VA) announced.
In addition to the income-related places, Brussels will receive another 400 new places under the basic subsidy regime. For such places, the care initiatives themselves determine what contribution parents pay. Other initiatives could create up to 150 more places.
Ms Van Achter, who was involved in developing the plans, underlines the importance of the additional childcare places: "In a metropolitan context, families must be able to count on childcare close to home, affordable and in their own language. This expansion is an important step forward."