Businesses recognise importance of childcare

Childcare Services Zurich is soon to offer 70 places at three crèches in the city Keystone Archive

More and more businesses are recognising the importance of providing adequate childcare for their employees. Inspired by that challenge, Zurich's Young Chamber of Commerce formed a new association in 1996 called Childcare Services Zurich.

The main task of this co-operative association is to offer advice and act as an intermediary for a wide selection of childcare arrangements for working parents. It also runs its own nursery called Kids and Co.

Andrea Jenzer, who is the co-head of Childcare Services, told swissinfo about the theory behind the association.

“We think that childcare is a responsibility for employers as well as parents and our association will offer them a practical concept for childcare,” explained Jenzer.

“It’s not always viable for companies to have crèche facilities so our Kids and Co crèche only offers childcare facilities for companies that belong to our association,” she added.

Renata Derungs is the other leader of Childcare Services, working more on the business side of operations. She told swissinfo that at the beginning the association attracted mainly larger companies but now smaller firms are also joining.

“With unemployment in Switzerland very low at present that means companies are very interested in what we are doing,” said Derungs. “I think a modern family policy is also very important now in the corporate world.”

Childcare is such an important issue that many prospective employees are in fact approaching Childcare Services Zurich to check the record of prospective employers before taking jobs.

Childcare Services Zurich currently runs two nurseries in the city for children upward of three months old. Soon it will have three crèche facilities with some 70 places.

Many parents though require only part-time childcare, but end up having to pay for a full-time place. However, this problem is overcome at Childcare Services Zurich as member firms pick up the bill for the unused hours.

Companies pay an annual donation to the association, with only five out of the 34 corporate members helping their employees cover actual costs at the crèche. A one-month full time place costs SFr2,000 ($1131.86).

Andrea Jenzer admits that more government help would be useful. “We only get start up help from the government but we would appreciate it if parents with low income who bring their kids into our crèche would get some aid from the government. For this we are now in contact with the social department of canton Zurich.”

Childcare Services Zurich may have been running for only five years but the concept of bringing together employers, parents and childcare facilities is rolling out across the country.

“We opened a licensed partner in Basel in February,” explained Derung. “Now we are speaking with Bern to open a Childcare Services Bern and there are some ideas about doing the same in Geneva and Zug.”

Childcare Services Zurich has successfully managed to bring together business and parents to help solve childcare problems. By offering advice and acting as an intermediary, it has helped overcome a variety of problems.

And by collecting funds from member firms, companies are playing an important role in making it easier for employees with young families to get back to or stay in work.

by Tom O’Brien