Finding childcare that is accessible, affordable and high quality can be a major obstacle for parents of young children who want to return to work. In this episode of the Make It Work series, Euronews travels to Bulgaria to explore an innovative solution. Only 22% of children under 3 years are in early childhood education and care in Bulgaria, compared to the EU average of 40%.
”I want to go back to work not only for financial reasons. For me, working and feeling like an active mother is extremely important, because in this way we set a good example for our children’, says Kristina Ruzhdanova.
Kristina, a single mother, spent three months searching for childcare before finding support through the Parents in Employment project. Funded with over €28 million from the European Social Fund Plus, the project provides up to eight hours of free childcare a day for parents returning to work.
The project also creates jobs for unemployed people, as childcarers. This benefits both families and jobseekers.
”This is super for me and for them”, says Galina Ilieva, who was recruited by the National Employment Agency to take care of Kristina’s young son.
Bilyana Mincheva, Head of Unit for Active Labour Market Policies at the Employment Agency, explains how parents seeking childcare are matched with childcarers. She says the initiative has a “double positive effect.”
Since 2023, more than 3 400 families have received free childcare, and 3 500 childcarers have been employed through the project.
Accessible, affordable and quality childcare can also help reduce inequality. Childcare expert Christian Morabito explains that gaps in skills emerge in early childhood, and that quality childcare services can help narrow these gaps. Childcare also helps more parents to enter or return to the labour market, which can lower income inequalities.
As part of its renewed commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights, the European Commission is expanding equal opportunities and exploring further ways to activate people facing barriers to employment, including by improving access to childcare.
Please share it on social media, too!
