Green Party: Childcare Should Not Depend on Place of Residence

The Greens are demanding more pressure from the federal government on the states regarding the expansion of childcare. There are dramatic differences in the availability of childcare facilities between the states, but also within them, criticized Deputy Club Chairwoman Alma Zadic and Family Spokeswoman Barbara Neßler at a press conference on Tuesday. The claim that there is no money is a "lame excuse," Zadic pointed out, referring to unclaimed earmarked grants.

Pressure on States for Expansion of Childcare Demanded

"Childcare should not be a postcode lottery," criticized Neßler. Often, the place of residence determines whether parents have good childcare or whether the kindergarten closes at noon or is only open for four hours a day. The situation is particularly bad in Styria, Upper Austria, and Carinthia, where not even half of the children are cared for in a facility compatible with full-time work for parents. In Tyrol, where the proportion is just over 50 percent, regional differences are very large, and every fifth facility does not even meet the half-day minimum standards, according to Neßler.

Unpaid Care Work Mostly Falls on Mothers

And still, as it was 50 or 100 years ago, it is mostly mothers who stay at home if there is no reliable childcare, said Zadic. "Our entire economic system is based on women performing unpaid care work," criticized the Deputy Club Chairwoman.

Specifically, the Greens are calling for 50,000 additional childcare places by 2030. What is needed for this is not additional financial resources, but political will. The funds are available thanks to the turquoise-green predecessor government, but are not being utilized by the federal states, said Neßler. The federal government seems to care little about this, she said, and called for more pressure on the eight ÖVP- and SPÖ-governed states.

(APA/Red)

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