Creche strike over childcare reforms

CRECHE workers around France are holding a one-day strike today which will affect both municipal and private services.

Four unions have called the day of action to protest against work conditions and a rise in the number of children per worker.

Some creches will be closed and others will be offering a bare minimum service.

The government announced big changes to the municipal childcare system earlier this month, dropping the legal minimum of fully qualified staff required in each centre from 50% to 40%.

The reform also allows every centre to exceed the number of authorised places by between 10% and 20% to cope with demand.

The government wants to create another 200,000 creche places by 2012 including 10,000 based within big companies in Paris.

Charly - Fotolia.com