Switzerland/ Out-of-home childcare: towards a new childcare allowance for children in Switzerland

In its federal support project, the Education Committee of the Council of States wants to introduce a new childcare allowance for children under 8.

Out-of-home childcare must be financially supported in the long term. The relevant committee of the Council of States is planning a new childcare allowance of at least CHF 100 per month for children up to the age of 8. The cantons would be responsible for financing this.

The current federal support program will expire at the end of 2026. The Education Committee of the Council of States has now finalized its plan to support out-of-home childcare, according to a press release from the parliamentary services on Wednesday. It proposes a new childcare allowance based on the family allowance model.

The allowance would be granted for children up to the age of 8 who are cared for in an institutional setting. It would amount to a minimum of CHF 100 per month, and would be increased by CHF 50 for each additional half-day of childcare. The majority proposes that funding should be determined by the cantons. It hopes that this project will become an indirect counter-proposal to the SP's initiative on day-care centers.

Source: www.lenouvelliste.ch/