Daycare organisations and interest groups have warned of a ‘crisis’ in childcare with a shortage of workers and increasing waiting lists, reports the NOS.

From January this year the rules have changed to require one qualified childcare worker per three infants under the age of one – a reduction from the previous level of 1:4.

But, reports the NOS, waiting lists have increased again from six months on average to one year, and childcare organisations report 4620 job vacancies, it says.

Parents’ organisation Boink told the NOS that there was a ‘crisis’ even before new quality of care regulations were enforced this year.  Chairman Gjalt Jellsema said the sector suffers from ‘yoyo-ing’ because it is so closely impacted by the economy – particularly the financial crisis of 2012 to 2014 when 25,000 employees left for other professions.

‘For a few years, people did not choose the [childcare] qualification because it was a job without opportunities,’ he reportedly said.

Muriëlle Springer, director of the Kinderrijk childcare chain, said recruiting is a problem, and added that a wait for childcare is also concerning if parents cannot get out of the home. ‘From an emancipation point of view, it’s a worry,’ she reportedly said.