The planned support measures for families with children in the coming years, as well as the continued implementation of child monitoring services, were the main topics of discussion at the meeting of the demographic Affairs Council, which was held on Thursday, September 10 under the leadership of Welfare Minister Ulda Augulis.

During the meeting, those present examined the issue of the implementation of future childcare services and accessibility of local government pre-school educational institutions. Although next year’s budget does not provide funds for co-financing private kindergartens, overall it is planned that this will not have a significant impact on parents’ income. Co-financing for private kindergartens will continue to be ensured, but from local government budgets.

At the same time, the Ministry of Environment and Regional Development is working on a mechanism for ensuring access to pre-school educational institutions. As the Minister of Environment and Regional Development Kaspars Gerhards pointed out, currently the queues issue needs to be actively addressed in 14 municipalities, which are mostly Riga and Pieriga municipalities. Many municipalities have successfully resolved this issue.

Those present also agreed that registration and supervision of the nanny service should be continued in order to provide alternative facilities for childminding services in local governments. Thus, parents who are not provided with a place in a municipal kindergarten also have the option of choosing a babysitter’s service, which at the same time also promotes women’s employment. It is also important to link this service to pre-primary education.

As Welfare Minister U.Augulis noted,” it is important to ensure the maintenance and control of the nanny register. We see that the service has produced good results and, with the register, we are able to exercise greater control over the quality of service provision and assess the professionalism of nannies. It is essential that the bad cases of children suffering and their rights being violated no longer occur in the future. At the same time, it is essential that this service is not part of the shadow economy. ‘

Read in more detail: http://www.mk.gov.lv/lv/aktualitates/izverte-atbalsta-pasakumus-gimenem-ar-berniem