The Dutch ministers of Gennip and Schouten link the delay in reducing the parental contribution in the Caribbean Netherlands to the timing of similar measures in the European Netherlands. They answer that today to the House of Representatives.
In the decision notes on the answer to the parliamentary questions, it becomes clear that ministers of Social Affairs and Employment each had a different preference option with regard to the introduction date of the parental contribution of four percent on the BES-islands.
The decision to align the parental contribution in the Caribbean Netherlands with that in the European Netherlands was taken with the agreement of both directors involved. The policy is aimed at phasing out the parental contribution to four percent as of 2027.
Measures have also been taken to improve the financial accessibility of childcare for parents who cannot bear the costs, through a Temporary Subsidy for Childcare Financing in the Caribbean Netherlands. According to the ministers, this arrangement actually makes childcare ‘ free ’ for those parents, although there are indications that not all eligible parents use it.
Introduction
The answer to the House of Representatives shows that there are indeed challenges in the Caribbean Netherlands with regard to childcare, comparable to those in the European Netherlands. There are waiting lists in Bonaire and a shortage of qualified pedagogical staff in Saba and St. Eustatius. The Dutch government is concerned that introducing free childcare would increase the pressure on this already challenging situation, especially with regard to the quality of service.
Although there are shortages and challenges in the Caribbean Netherlands, they are not considered to be so serious that they should postpone the introduction of the BES Childcare Act. In contrast to the European Netherlands, where capacity problems have delayed the introduction of near-free childcare, the Cabinet is of the opinion that these problems are manageable in the Caribbean Netherlands and do not constitute a reason for postponement.
Postponement implications
According to both ministers, postponing the introduction of the BES Childcare Act in the Caribbean Netherlands has negative implications for the quality of childcare and its supervision. The law aims to regulate the quality, supervision and financing of childcare and should enter into force in the course of 2024, with financing starting at the earliest on January 1, 2025. Procrastination would be a missed opportunity to improve the quality of childcare on the islands. For parents who cannot bear the costs of childcare, little is expected to change from the current situation. Under the new law, the administration on the islands will have the opportunity to pay this parental contribution as part of the local poverty policy.
Until the new law comes into effect, the current temporary subsidy scheme will continue to apply whereby the government can reimburse the parental contribution. The postponement of the law would therefore mainly hinder progress in quality and supervision, while financial accessibility would remain the same for the most vulnerable groups.
Differences
There are differences between the childcare systems in the Caribbean and European Netherlands. An important difference is that in the Caribbean Netherlands the parental contribution for childcare is not income dependent and there is no condition that both parents have to work in order to qualify for subsidized childcare.
Children of parents who cannot afford it in the Caribbean Netherlands can also use free childcare, an option that is apparently also continued in the new BES Childcare Act.
Moreover, there is currently no pre-school education available in the Caribbean Netherlands, an option that does exist in the European Netherlands. This difference in supply can affect the development of children and could therefore be considered a significant difference.
However, the aim of the BES childcare bill is to equalize the parental contribution in the Caribbean and European Netherlands as much as possible. The question whether a previous introduction of near-free childcare in the Caribbean Netherlands would make too great a difference is not directly answered by both ministers. bonaire.nu
