The Local Germany

End to Germany-wide strikes in sight as negotiations begin

Thu, 28 Feb 2019 12:18:49 +0100

Strikes in the education, nursing and civil service sectors have been postponed across Germany as negotiations continue. Unions have threatened a return to the strike action that had paralysed much of the country earlier in 2019 should their demands not be met.

Controversial child care cash falters at launch

Wed, 31 Jul 2013 15:42:00 +0200

After over a year of bitter controversy, new childcare rules will come into force on Thursday guaranteeing day care for every child aged one to three - and paying cash to parents who pass up the offer.

Immigrant families shun German nurseries

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0200

Immigrant families are far less likely to send their young child to day care than German parents, largely because they have different priorities for child-raising, a new study suggests.

German parents want more state support

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:09:00 +0200

German parents are unhappy with family support on offer from the government, according to a new study. Most said they wanted more day care places and help balancing work and caring for children.

'There is a huge demand for nannies in Munich'

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 08:39:00 +0200

Being a nanny or au pair can be a great way to experience German culture, but there can be pitfalls. Nicolette Kalbfell explores the ins and outs of working in Munich.

'Language doesn't matter - kids are all the same'

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:05:00 +0100

In the first instalment of our new series My German Career, The Local sat down with Potsdam kindergarten teacher Chelsey Funk for a chat about tending Teutonic toddlers.

Investors spy big bucks in day-care crunch

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:38:00 +0100

As German authorities scramble to create thousands of day care places by a 2013 deadline, many investment firms are sensing opportunity and setting up "day care-facility funds" that promise solid returns over several years.

Authorities fear parents could sue for day care

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 13:01:00 +0100

Local authorities fear a possible flood of lawsuits from disappointed parents next summer when a law comes into effect guaranteeing under-threes a place in day care.

Women 'still stuck at home with the kids'

Tue, 25 Sep 2012 12:47:00 +0200

Many German mothers are finding it difficult to break free of traditional gender roles: A new official study shows that in a number of families, men are still the ones with the careers, while women are responsible for the kids and the kitchen.

Day care missing for hordes of toddlers

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:08:00 +0200

Germany’s often cash-strapped local authorities have a year to create at least 130,000 day care places – or they will be breaking the law.

Government fumes at opposition debate trick

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 15:41:00 +0200

German opposition parties managed to prevent a vote on controversial childcare benefits when they interrupted a parliament session on Friday morning. The government is said to be furious.

OECD slams government day care payment plan

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 13:40:00 +0200

The German scheme to pay money to parents who keep their young children at home rather than sending them to state-subsidised day care has been slammed by the OECD which says it could to more harm than good.

Parents to be paid to keep tots at home

Wed, 06 Jun 2012 16:50:00 +0200

German parents who keep their young children at home rather than send them to day care look set to get money from the government, after the cabinet passed a controversial child care subsidy law on Wednesday.

Western states likely to miss day-care targets

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 13:30:00 +0100

Latest statistics suggest that western German states will fall well short of a 2007 target of ensuring that one in three children would have a day care spot by 2013.

Merkel's coalition agrees tax break plan

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 09:29:00 +0100

Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed a comprehensive tax cut plan on Sunday evening in an effort to resolve an internal coalition dispute between her Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian CSU allies, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP)

Loud children no longer considered noise pollution

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:16:00 +0100

The German government on Wednesday made it more difficult to file complaints about the sound of children playing in residential areas by altering noise pollution laws.

Pensioners want kids out of residential areas

Thu, 10 Feb 2011 09:56:00 +0100

The German Child Protection Association has reacted angrily to a proposal from a senior citizens’ organization to remove children’s day care centres from residential areas.

Demand for day care on the rise

Mon, 28 Jun 2010 16:24:00 +0200

The demand for child day care is rising in Germany, but states are tackling the challenge with varying levels of investment and success, a new study showed on Monday.

Day care guarantee not in danger, minister says

Wed, 12 May 2010 10:33:00 +0200

Families will still be guaranteed a day care spot for their young children by 2013 despite Germany's worsening budgetary situation, Family Minister Kristina Schröder assured on Wednesday.

Germany continues to shrink

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:17:00 +0100

Official figures on Thursday showed Germany's population shrank for the seventh year in a row in 2009, defying Chancellor Angela Merkel's bid to boost the country's birth rate.