Suwon-si Selected as Local Government for Pilot Project of Integrated Hourly Childcare Operation

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province has been selected as a local government to carry out the Ministry of Health and Welfare's 'Integrated Operation Pilot Project for Part-time Childcare,' and will operate an efficient part-time childcare service for children cared for at home.

The part-time childcare service allows parents who care for their children at home to use childcare facilities on an hourly basis when urgent or temporary childcare is needed, and pay childcare fees according to the hours used.

From September this year to February next year, Suwon City will pilot an integrated childcare service that implements part-time childcare services in regular classes at daycare centers.

Previously, part-time childcare classes and regular childcare classes were operated separately.

Accordingly, integrated part-time childcare services will be provided at 14 classes in 12 locations: one public daycare center (2 classes), three private daycare centers (4 classes), and eight home daycare centers (8 classes) within the jurisdiction (8 classes for 0-year-olds, 6 classes for 1-year-olds).

The service targets infants aged 6 to under 36 months who reside in Suwon and do not use daycare centers or kindergartens (children receiving infant allowance or childcare allowance).

Without separately establishing part-time childcare classes, part-time childcare services will be integrated and operated within existing regular childcare classes (utilizing unfilled quotas and idle spaces in regular classes). The service is available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A city official explained, "Previously, part-time childcare classes were operated separately from regular classes in different spaces, and if there was no facility operating part-time childcare classes near home, parents had to use childcare facilities far away, causing inconvenience. This project will help reduce childcare burdens and operate part-time childcare services more efficiently."