As of August 1, 2026, the statutory parental share of personnel costs will decrease from 5 to 2.5 percent. From January 1, 2027, the state government will completely abolish these daycare parental fees.
Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger: “The abolition of daycare fees is the largest net salary increase many families in Saarland have ever received. At the same time, we are strengthening the construction of additional places with the daycare turbo, recruiting additional staff, and gradually lowering the legally permissible closure days step by step. These measures provide great relief for families, but are also extremely sensible from an economic policy perspective.”
Minister of Education Christine Streichert-Clivot: “Families need framework conditions that support them. Affordable childcare is a crucial building block for parents to reconcile family and work well. With our gradual reduction, we give parents more freedom in shaping their family and professional lives and ensure that early childhood education is fully accessible to all children.”
Daycare parental fees correspond to a legally fixed share of the personnel costs of the facilities. With each reduction, the state assumes a larger portion of these costs, while the share payable by the parents decreases accordingly.
The reduction also benefits the counties and the Saarbrücken Regional Association. They assume the daycare fees for families who cannot reasonably be expected to pay based on their income within the framework of economic youth welfare. When the parental share decreases, municipal youth welfare agencies are thus also relieved.
With the gradual reduction of fees, Saarland strengthens early childhood education and gives families more financial leeway. This is intended to ensure that every child can benefit from good education and reliable care regardless of their parents’ financial situation.
