Daycare vouchers are being introduced

Care vouchers have already been introduced in various municipalities in the canton of Zug. These are financial contributions to parents from the municipality to help cover the costs of looking after their children in a recognised day care centre. The amount of the monthly payment depends on the amount of daycare needed for the child, the workload of the legal guardians, and the income. Baar and the city of Zug, for example, introduced this system some time ago.

Hünenberg is now following their example. The Ennetsee municipality announced in 2018 that such vouchers would be introduced. The municipal council thereby followed the recommendation of the ad hoc "Financing childcare" commission, which supported this system change. The Teiki daycare centre, the Ennetsee daycare centre and the ZugWest daycare centre are approved for the care voucher system in Hünenberg.

The details have now been worked out, as can be read on the municipal website. This also shows that not everyone is entitled to the care vouchers. Subsidies are no longer granted from net assets of more than CHF 350,000.

A maximum of 240 care days are covered.

The costs of the care of school children is also reduced by contributions from the municipality. The contact point for registration is the Verein Familie plus Hünenberg. Further details on the childcare vouchers can be found in the regulations on the financing of family-related childcare.

It can be seen from the regulation, for example, that childcare vouchers may not be higher than the agreed daycare tariff minus the minimum cost sharing contribution. In addition: "The care vouchers cover a maximum of 240 care days." Financial support is paid monthly in advance. In exceptional cases, a direct payment can be made to the respective childcare provider.

In principle, vouchers will be issued for childcare providers such as crèches that have an operating license from the local municipality. The responsible department can also issue vouchers for non-cantonal offers in justified individual cases, however.

Municipal crèches who are interested in being recognised for childcare vouchers could contact the municipal social and health department, the report concludes.