EXCERPTS:

Trade union federation FNV is worried about the future of child care and has written to parliament asking for the new round of cuts in the sector due in 2013 to be stopped.

Creches and after-school clubs have already been hit by cuts and the FNV says this is having an adverse affect on young working mothers, the Volkskrant reports.

A spokeswoman for the social affairs ministry told the paper next year's cut in child care will be €200m. The FNV says this will lead to the collapse of the system.

It wants new children's centres to be set up which will be open to all children regardless of whether parents are working and their income. The money available for toddler and child care and after-school clubs should be added together to provide facilities for every child under four years of age, the union says.

-reprinted from Expatica.com