To improve the living conditions of many parents, Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) announced major investments in childcare on Monday. However, the SPÖ and the trade unions do not fully believe him. They find little more than a “marketing smear.”
Together with the federal states and municipalities, Nehammer wants to invest 4.5 billion euros in this area by 2030, he announced in the ORF summer talk. Just last May, the federal and state governments agreed on a “kindergarten billion” in a 15a agreement, which stipulates that the federal government must increase state funds by 200 million euros annually by 2026/2027.
The financial resources need to be increased significantly
This was criticized from the field and from the social partners as it was clearly not enough to expand supply and improve working conditions in the field that was severely affected by staff shortages. Kindergarten staff had taken to the streets several times in recent months for better conditions. Nehammer and Family Minister Susanne Raab (ÖVP) have now announced a significant increase in funding through 2030.
Nehammer advance ‘completely absurd’
SPÖ federal manager Klaus Seltenheim called this move “completely absurd” in a broadcast, after all Nehammer had “not lifted a finger for years” and in 2016 his party in the SPÖ-ÖVP coalition sabotaged “the fully negotiated expansion of kindergartens for party organizations.” tactical reasons”.
Critical tones were also heard from the trade unions. ÖGB Vice-President and Federal Women’s President Korinna Schumann saw Nehammer’s announcement in a broadcast as a success of the pressure exerted by the union, but at the same time it had to be said only recently: “If the federal government announces something big with Chancellor Karl Nehammer, then caution is advised – it could quickly turn out to be a beacon”.
“Not a subject for marketing makers”
“Child care is not a problem for defamation marketing,” GPA president Barbara Teiber stressed, demanding speed from Nehammer. In the longer term, 4.5 billion euros would not be enough. Younion vice president Manfred Obermüller also feared “that a PR nail would be smashed without a head”. After all, a ‘kindergarten billion’ had already been promised in 2022, which actually meant only 57.5 million euros more per year. The fact that a year later, with the same data, there should now be considerably more money is reminiscent of the election campaign.
Coalition partner satisfied
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Greens, Olga Voglauer, was pleased, for whom a long-standing demand of the Greens is being met with the extension of childcare from one year. This allows parents to return to work and creates a fair, equitable division of paid work and unpaid parenting, according to a broadcast.
The Association of Municipalities has also welcomed the initiative. More money for childcare was demanded for months during financial equalization negotiations, and Vice Presidents Andrea Kaufmann and Erwin Dirnberger said they were ready for further negotiations with the federal and state governments.
More childcare, less shortage of skilled workers?
Christoph Neumayer, Secretary General of the Federation of Austrian Industries (IV), saw the initiative not only as an important investment in education, but also as a countermeasure to the shortage of skilled labor by enabling parents to return to work more quickly to go. The trade association and the employers’ association also saw a step towards improving the balance between work and family, which is especially important in times of tightness on the labor market.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
