Aruba Daycare Law Implementation: AVP faction leader Jennifer Arends-Reyers has pledged her parliamentary contribution to improving Aruba’s Daycare and Childcare Law, acknowledging that while the island has taken positive steps, significant gaps remain in the implementation phase.
The Daycare and Childcare Law received parliamentary approval after being developed into what was described as a strong conceptual framework. However, during implementation, authorities encountered several loopholes and conditions that do not align with the reality on the ground. The responsible minister, Gerlien Croes, recently addressed parliament to provide an update on the current situation.
Arends-Reyers, who attended the briefing, expressed agreement with the minister’s assessment. “As the minister explained, there is still much missing in the implementation phase. As a country, we have taken positive steps, but much more is needed,” she stated.
Drawing from her professional background in the childcare sector, the parliamentarian highlighted a key concern: children are now required to attend a crèche before entering kleuterschool (preschool). She emphasized that before children enter this phase, they must begin learning basic skills, making the quality of daycare facilities critically important.
Arends-Reyers described this as the right moment for parliament to contribute ideas on how to implement the law in the best possible way, including making changes where necessary.
The discussion also addressed the possibility of providing subsidies to parents for daycare costs, recognizing that private companies can also play a role in supporting families. This proposal will be studied further before any decisions are made.
Arends-Reyers stressed that once a daycare facility serves five or more children, it effectively becomes a business subject to regulatory oversight. This includes controls for pedagogical standards, hygiene, and overall quality of the environment. She also underscored the critical role that inspections must play in ensuring compliance with these standards.
