Early childhood: winners and losers of the childcare reform

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To help with childcare for his two children , a father recently received €350 a month, half of his childminder's salary. A schoolteacher, he earns €2,600 net per month and considers this financial support essential. "It was generous and at the same time necessary, because it's true that life in Paris is very expensive. And if you have "normal" salaries, you need this help, especially if you have several children," says Julien Troccon, father of two.

On September 1st, the method for calculating this aid will change. It will take greater account of the situation of households, particularly those on the lowest incomes, and the number of hours of childcare.

Concretely, a couple earning €2,000 net per month will have to pay €436 per month before the reform, compared to €198 after, a gain of €238. For another couple earning more, €6,000 per month, the remaining out-of-pocket costs will be €278. They will ultimately lose €45.

And the highest incomes won't be the only losers, according to an employer representative. "Some single-parent families with children under 3 years old may find themselves somewhat disadvantaged by the new method of calculation," says Michèle Kerrad, co-president of the Federation of Private Employers of France. This criticism has been dismissed by the government. It highlights the extension of assistance to the child's age of 12, compared to the current age of 6, for single-parent families.

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