Italy’s 2027–2029 budget bill proposes a temporary childcare voucher of up to €500 per month for some self-employed parents. The measure would run experimentally for three years and cover up to three months of babysitting or early-childhood education costs, including nursery fees.
Under Article 60 of the bill, parents could apply after maternity or paternity leave and use the voucher during the following 11 months. It would be an alternative to parental leave: recipients would give up paid work leave for the period covered by the contribution.
The proposal covers self-employed people enrolled with Italy’s social security institute, INPS, including artisans, traders and farmers, as well as people registered with the separate INPS scheme. Eligible expenses would include babysitting and services at public or accredited private childcare facilities, such as nurseries and “spring sections” for young children.
If both parents are self-employed, only one could receive the contribution. The voucher would not count toward the ISEE income indicator used to calculate the single child allowance.
Employees in the public and private sectors, along with professionals enrolled in private pension funds, are excluded. The separate INPS scheme also includes collaborators, doctoral students and research fellows; an implementing decree is expected to clarify whether they would qualify.
The bill allocates €15 million per year for 2027, 2028 and 2029. A decree from the minister for the Family, in coordination with the Labour Ministry and the Economy and Finance Ministry, would set eligibility rules, how the voucher can be used and procedures to keep spending within the allocated budget.
Sources: Il Sole 24 Ore Italia.