The Tenerife Cabildo started issuing childcare vouchers of up to 800 euros yesterday (Wednesday), starting the second year of this programme to support working families.
It will initially benefit over 1,500 households, and aims to support more than 6,000 families across the island.
With a €1.3 million investment, the vouchers are to help families with children aged 0 to 3 cover costs like tuition, childcare, hygiene, food, and clothing, while allowing parents to choose their preferred childcare centre.
Cabildo President, Rosa Dávila, praised the efficient work of the Ministry of Employment and the FIFEDE team, who managed over 2,000 applications as quickly as possible.
Due to increased demand, the cabildo has increased the budget to help more families, reinforcing the programme’s importance for work-life balance.
The Minister of Education and Employment, Efraín Medina, applauded FIFEDE's role in managing the grants. He highlighted the initiative's impact on creating job opportunities and fostering a supportive and well-educated community, crucial for working families.
This year, applications rose by 36%, with 2,024 submissions compared to last year’s 1,500. The vouchers aim to reduce financial stress on families, helping parents continue their careers while their children receive care.
The programme also promotes gender equality by enabling women to balance work and parenting, reducing the gender gap in the job market. With 80% of care leave requests by women, this support is vital in helping mothers stay in their jobs.
