Hafnafjörður wants to increase the number of daycare parents

New service agreement with daycare parents approved and signed

Recently, the board of daycare parents in Hafnarfjörður has met with the town´s representatives, to discuss daycare parenting issues. The result was that the town of Hafnarfjörður and daycare parents formed a new and contentious service agreement, that was recently signed. The agreement will improve working conditions for daycare parents and increase co-operation between the parties concerned. There are now 23 active daycare parents in Hafnarfjörður, the hope is that the number of daycare parents will increase in the coming years.

Foundation and facility grants

The new service agreement includes grants to daycare parents, most notably a foundation grant amounting to ISK 300,000.- for those who start work in the sector and have a valid work permit. After a year on the job, daycare parents can apply annually for a facility grant amounting to ISK 30,000.- for each child staying with them. These grants enable daycare parents to purchase toys and equipment needed for their work, as well as to carry out maintenance at the establishment. The town of Hafnarfjörður also facilitates education during working days, to promote the important and creative work done by daycare parents. At the same time, the payment for daycare parents increased from ISK 8,433 per hour of visit to ISK 12,800 per hour of visit. Lower-income parents/custodians can apply for additional subsidies on the current tariff. Sibling discount is then obtained when siblings are with a daycare parent at the same time, in kindergarten or during leisurely activities, and the second child receives a 75% discount, and the third 100%.

Daycare parents are an important pillar of the community

At the beginning of the year, the Hafnarfjörður Municipal Council approved the amendment to offer home payments to parents of children from the age of 12 months, an initial foundation grant to daycare parents and an increase in subsidies for daycare parents, which is reflected in the new home payments. These changes came into force as of the 1st of January 2023, and are specifically aimed at promoting greater choices when it comes to childcare. Daycare parents are an important pillar of our society, and the aim of the municipality with these measures is to increase the number of daycare parents and strengthen the profession. The demand for the services of daycare parents is high and it is quite clear that a certain group of children enjoy themselves well and sometimes more in smaller groups in these homelike settings. Daycare parents in Hafnarfjörður are self-employed but receive a work permit from their municipality, under certain conditions. The daycare officer of Hafnarfjarðarbær supervises the activities of daycare parents, as well as provides them with professional advice on a day-to-day basis.

Those interested in working as daycare parents, can apply for a work permit from the Quality and Control Authority