She announced the direction and the ministerial proposals at a press conference held on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy.

We meet today, 3 April, on the eve of 4 April, and this date is no coincidence, because we want to make 4 April a special day for nursery carers. One of our priorities at the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is to expand the childcare system for children under three. Caring for a young child supports the family, it supports parents in returning to the labour market. It is a concern for the development of these youngest, future generations - pointed out Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk while announcing plans to establish 4 April as the Day of the Carer for a Young Child.

The aim, she added, is to create as many places as possible in nurseries and to provide the highest quality of care.

Let us remember that the care of a young child in a nursery is provided not by this or that nursery room, by this or that nursery building. Care is provided by people, carers, those who go to work every day to look after our children, to support their development, to teach them basic activities, to surround them with care and keep them safe. It is certainly a profession of public trust - the Minister pointed out.

As a reminder, the Council of Ministers has already adopted a draft law providing for allowances of PLN 1,000 for employees of municipal childcare institutions for children up to the age of three. 

Raising the profile of the profession

A draft amendment prepared by the ministry envisages the establishment of 4 April as Day of the Carer for a Young Child. The celebration will be an opportunity for carers distinguished by impeccable work, commitment and conscientiousness to be presented with the Carer for a Young Child Medals. The medals will have 3 grades depending on who will be presenting them: gold medals to be presented by the Minister for Family Affairs, silver medals by marshals of voivodeships and bronze medals by commune heads/mayors/city presidents.

Under the proposed law, caregivers will become public officials and the entities employing them will be obliged to act ex officio in defence of a caregiver in a nursery or children’s club or in defence of a day-care provider when the rights established for them are violated.

Carers will be entitled to 2 additional days of annual leave after 5 years of employment, to be increased by 2 days with each 5 years of service until the leave reaches 10 days.

In addition, the director of a nursery or the person in charge of a children’s club and the entity employing the day-care worker will be obliged to release childminders and day-care workers for eight hours a year from childcare duties in order to undergo training to improve their qualifications and competences.

This is an absolutely unique moment for us, because the solutions we are talking about are much needed in the community of carers and caregivers of young children. This is the culmination of our work on many levels, which shows that raising the prestige, appreciation of the work of nursery carers is an important area of activity for us - assured Aleksandra Gajewska, Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy.