The Madrid City Council has presented its Strategic Plan for the Promotion of Birth Rates and Work-Life Balance to counteract the low birth rate in the city. The plan, which spans from 2024 to 2029, includes measures such as providing a 500 euro check to families with a first child, 750 euros for a second, and 1,000 euros for a third. Additionally, children's scholarships will be increased by 10%, with payments made every two months.
The check will be universal and will have no income or age restrictions, although the applicant parent will need to have been registered in Madrid for five years. There will also be increased support for children's scholarships aimed at students aged 0 to 3 years. This initiative aims to facilitate the decision to have children in the city and remove obstacles for families.
The plan, described as "pioneering and ambitious," includes 50 points and has a budget of 675 million euros. Councilor Rita Maestre has emphasized the importance of eliminating barriers for families, although she also noted that the project does not consider single-parent families.
For her part, socialist councilor Ana Lima has highlighted the need to ensure places in childcare centers and scholarships for low-income families, as well as to facilitate access to affordable housing. It is expected that half of the housing promoted by the Municipal Housing Company will be allocated to young people and young families.
The Council of Families will be established as a participatory body to address the needs of parents, and support will be provided to organizations that work for families through subsidies. Additionally, the creation of 80 new centers and the expansion of places in children's camps is planned.
The plan also includes incentives for companies that promote birth and work-life balance measures, such as tax reductions. Housing will be reserved for families with children under one year old, and access to scholarships and financial aid for families will be broadened. The goal is to reverse the trend of more deaths than births in the city and promote motherhood and fatherhood.
