The Danish government has announced a plan to allocate DKK 110 million annually to eliminate the disparity between private and public childcare arrangements. This initiative, revealed as part of the upcoming budget proposal, aims to provide equal opportunities for parents regardless of their choice of childcare.

Minister of Economy Stephanie Lose (V) emphasized the need to end discrimination between private and public care options. The proposal seeks to ensure that parents who opt for private childcare receive the same benefits as those using public nurseries.

Specifically, the government intends to enable parents using private arrangements to receive maternity benefits during the settling-in period, where the child is gradually introduced to the care setting. Furthermore, the plan aims to provide equal access to sibling discounts and free childcare places, mirroring the benefits available in public offerings.

According to Stephanie Lose, the goal is not to favor one type of care over another, but rather to ensure that Danish families can freely choose the childcare option that best suits their needs without facing unfair discrimination.

In addition to standardizing conditions, the government will allocate funds to improve the qualifications of staff in private care arrangements. Municipalities will also be required to publish the calculations used to determine subsidy amounts for private institutions, promoting transparency and accountability. Private care arrangements involve parents receiving a municipal subsidy to hire a private childminder, with the municipality approving the agreement before subsidies are provided.