Euronews aired a report highlighting the support provided to families in Bulgaria under the “Human Resources Development“ Programme. The report is part of the “Make It Work” series, produced by Euronews in partnership with the European Commission.
The report tells the story of a single mother who spent three months searching for suitable childcare that would allow her to return to work. She found a solution through the Employment Agency’s “Parents in Employment” project, which matched her with an unemployed person hired as a childminder. As a result, the mother has been able to continue working as an accountant, while her child receives full-day care at home.
„Parents in Employment” addresses two challenges at the same time: it provides free childcare for working parents and creates employment opportunities for unemployed people. The project has a total budget of €33.5 million, including €28 million from the European Social Fund Plus through the Human Resources Development Programme. Since 2023, 3,400 families have received support and 3,500 unemployed people have been hired as childminders.
The topic is particularly relevant in light of the European Commission’s renewed commitment to the European Pillar of Social Rights. Affordable, high-quality childcare is essential for supporting parents’ return to the labour market and helping them achieve a better balance between work and family life.
The report is available on the Euronews website and on the Human Resources Development Programme’s YouTube channel.