2024-01-05 11:25:00
“My nursery is located on the border between the French Community and the German-speaking Community. I started my career working for the German-speaking Community then I moved one kilometer from the border, to the French Community side. For 18 years, this was not a problem and the German-speaking Community allowed me to continue working as a caretaker for them. But on December 21, I received my notice for January 1,” she explains.
On the west side of the canal, there is a glaring lack of places in daycare centers: here are the details by municipality (INFOGRAPHIC)
Arlette Raxhon has tried to negotiate with the German-speaking Community but her attempts have so far ended in failure. She also says she contacted the office of Minister of Early Childhood Bénédicte Linard. “A person from his office told me that they are waiting for a green light from the German-speaking Community so that I can continue but nothing is being done.” Since that day, Arlette Raxhon has been in an impasse. “I don’t have a diploma or CESS. I am therefore not in the conditions to work in Wallonia, where my nursery is located. If I want to take training, I have to stop my activities for several months, which means that I will not have any income during this period. It is not possible. I’m going around in circles, trying to find a solution. I am 54 years old, I still have twelve years of career ahead of me, I would like to finish in this profession, in this place that I had built to accommodate children and where I was able to work for 18 years without no problem. I’ve never had a problem with the parents, the only problem is the territory! It’s absurd. We are in a situation of shortage and I am being prevented from working due to a question of territory,” she laments.
The parents of the children she welcomes are of the same opinion. “My son loved going there and we have complete confidence in her. We are stunned by what is happening. We are already short of babysitters and when things go well, they are taken away from us for a question of documents,” denounces a mother.
Shortage of nurseries
The reform transforms the creation of private crèches into an obstacle course,” denounces Florence Couldrey, alderman in Auderghem. Between 2019 and 2022, the number of places in daycare centers in the Walloon-Brussels Federation increased from 46,975 to 45,591, according to the ONE. And the coverage rate is barely around 37%, which means that 3.7 children out of ten can access a place in a reception environment.
In this tense context, Florence Couldrey (Défi), alderman in Auderghem, calls on the Minister of Children Bénédicte Linard to “stop the bleeding”. In the sights of the alderman, the Milac reform which tightens the rules for private operators.
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“The Milac reform prevents the creation of private nurseries or transforms the creation of private nurseries into an obstacle course. Among the improbable things required by the reform, private reception centers are obliged to have a capacity of at least 14 places. But in Brussels, finding a place big enough is almost impossible, she denounces. In Auderghem, I have a room with twelve places but I am not going to be able to do anything with it because the minister has decided that a minimum of fourteen places is needed per crèche. The commune of Auderghem is losing places which will not be able to be replaced by new ones because of this reform,” continues the alderwoman.
Long list of grievances
It also deplores the decision to make it impossible to work with independent workers unless there is an exemption. “It’s not reassuring because it doesn’t happen like that. In addition, the ONE is judge and party,” she points out.
The list of grievances formulated by Florence Couldrey against the reform is long. “We can no longer open as a natural person. You must automatically form a company or non-profit organization, which implies the obligation to maintain real compatibility with real accounts. You must be able to keep every ticket and justify every expense. No one has time to do that in a nursery, she denounces. Public finances do not allow us to do without the services of private crèches. It is essential to cancel certain measures of the Milac reform and to put in place effective aid!”
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