Childcare rules leave working parents trapped in Kärnten

Working parents in Kärnten are struggling to find childcare that matches their working hours, according to ORF. Places are often allocated based on criteria including whether parents are employed, creating difficulties when employment depends on having secured childcare.

One mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, wants to return to work as a teacher after parental leave. The opening hours at a childcare centre in her home municipality do not fit her future schedule.

Her only option would be to secure a place with longer opening hours in the city while also finding a teaching job there. But to obtain the childcare place, she must prove that she has both a job and a residence in the city. To secure the job, she needs guaranteed childcare.

This paradox has led some parents to look for ways around the rules. Some have reportedly provided false information about employment or childcare arrangements. Others have temporarily changed their registered address because children from the relevant municipality are given priority when places are allocated.

Employers are not legally allowed to ask how childcare is organised.

Peter Reichmann, the SPÖ education official responsible for the issue, said he was aware of short-term changes of address. “Of course this also reaches me. To be honest, I find it somewhat difficult when we want to derive arguments from violations of the registration law and therefore from an attempt to circumvent the system,” he said.

Municipalities must generally ensure childcare for children from their first birthday, but only within specified opening hours. If a municipality cannot provide this care, it must pay a solidarity contribution to the municipality where a place is found.

The arrangement is intended to give municipalities with available capacity an incentive to accept children from elsewhere. Places must nevertheless be allocated according to priorities, with each provider deciding which criteria apply. These can include the children’s ages and whether their parents are employed, Reichmann said.

As of June, 131 childcare places were available across Kärnten, distributed among 132 municipalities.