Gov't pushing through with much cheaper childcare in 2027 despite staff shortages

The Dutch government is pushing through with its plan to introduce almost free childcare for working parents in 2027, despite the growing staff shortages in the sector. The responsible State Secretaries told parliament that they are working on measures to address these concerns, NOS reports.

The previous Cabinet also wanted to introduce almost free childcare but postponed the measure due to the staff shortage. The current Cabinet has decided to push through with the plan, setting 2.9 billion euros aside for it. In 2027, the current childcare allowance will disappear and the money will go straight to the childcare organizations, eliminating the complicated process of applying for the right amount and paying back if you didn’t, State Secretaries Nora Achabar (Allowances) and Jurgen Nobel (Participation) wrote to parliament.

The childcare sector currently has a shortage of 6,000 employees. That is expected to grow to 42,000 by 2033. Currently, approximately 911,000 children attend childcare of some sort. The expectation is that cheaper childcare will result in more parents making use of it, which will further increase the need for staff.

The State Secretaries are aware of this concern in the “complex” transition to a new system, they wrote to parliament. “If supply cannot keep up with the extra demand, this can lead to price increases and waiting lists.” That will particularly impact low-income families.

The State Secretaries are working on measures to prevent price increases and to tackle staff shortages, including a subsidy scheme to encourage employees to work more hours. They plan to announce more concrete measures in the spring.