Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - The Verdi trade union held a campaign on the cathedral square in Magdeburg to draw attention to the shortage of skilled workers in daycare centers and after-school care centers in the country. 800 empty chairs were set up on Wednesday. Each chair represented five missing skilled workers. According to the union, 4,000 workers are missing from municipal daycare centers and after-school care centers. "In Saxony-Anhalt, we have the second-worst specialist-child ratio in after-school care centers and day-care centers in a nationwide comparison," said Johannes Mielke, Verdi union secretary.
The burdens in the facilities due to the ever-increasing number of children are increasing, as Mielke said. In addition, there are always high levels of sick leave, which put a strain on the already thin staffing level. "Politicians must assume their responsibility towards the youngest in our society and finally ensure more staff in the facilities," emphasized Mielke.
The staffing ratio in day-care centers is a matter for the federal states. According to Verdi, a change in the situation and more staff require appropriate decisions by the state parliament.
