Chile's President Kast Advances Universal Nursery Care Bill

The Chilean government moved the universal nursery‑care (Sala Cuna) project to the Senate with a request for immediate discussion. President José Antonio Kast signed key indications to accelerate the legislation, aiming to create a gradually implemented, fiscally sustainable system that guarantees childcare for working families.

The reform eliminates the historic barrier of article 203 of the Labour Code, which imposed an extra cost on employers hiring women. It establishes a public Fund of Sala Cuna financed by a 0.35% employer contribution for dependent workers and a similar levy for independent workers. Eligibility will expand over four years, beginning with children of dependent female workers and later including independent workers, fathers, and other categories.

The measure seeks to boost female employment, promote shared parental responsibility, and support the country’s low birth‑rate concerns. Employers will not be required to build childcare facilities or make co‑payments, and the Superintendence of Pensions will oversee fund management and enforce sanctions for misuse.