Some parents in Flanders could face an increase of up to €970 per year for childcare due to a reform in the child discount scheme.
The child discount is given to parents with multiple children under 12 years old. In 2024, parents paid €3.91 less per day for a daycare spot for their second child onwards. This will rise to €4.05 in 2025. The discount aims to support families with multiple children.
The Flemish Government has decided that in the future, the discount will only apply to children who are in daycare at the same time. This change means that parents could pay up to €150 more per month in a family with three children after the transition period.
"This is a saving of €33 million, which is passed on to parents," said Flemish MP Lise Vandecasteele (PTB/PVDA), who requested the figures from Welfare Caroline Gennez (Vooruit). "And this while we know that the high cost is already a barrier for parents to make more use of childcare."
Minister defends reform
Gennez has indicated that 49,160 people will be affected by the changes. The Minister defends the decision to implement reforms.
"Today, families receive a discount when two or more children are in daycare together," she explained, saying that this is "logical because that is an enormous cost for families. We are going to keep it that way."
What is not logical, according to Gennez, is that "the discount continues, even if the oldest child is already in nursery school [...] Money that is intended for children in daycare must also go to them. We invest the money that is released in extra places and staff."
It is not yet clear when the reform will take effect.
