A chara, - I read with disbelief comments made by both Tesco and IBEC in defence of Tesco's policy of paying play area supervisors at a lower rate than other store supervisors (The Irish Times, June 30th).
Recently IBEC, jointly with AIB, very publicly launched a special £50 million fund for childcare. Jackie Harrison, director of social policy for IBEC, said at this launch that the next step must be to "remove barriers to delivering a greater number and variety of integrated childcare options for parents".
Is it possible that IBEC does not consider that one such barrier is the consistent deprecation of the skills required by those who operate a high quality childcare service? Comments describing the workplace demands of a play area supervisor as "similar to babysitting and [requiring] little skill", in my view fall very short of a real commitment to the removal of any barriers to the delivery of quality services.
IBEC's Budget submission 2001 states that "unless the supply of childcare is increased, broad affordability or standards of care will note be achieved". On one hand IBEC acknowledges the "apparent complexity" and "range of issues to be considered" prior to setting up a childcare service, which it describes as an often "overwhelming experience", while at the same time it describes those working in the sector, having overcome this complexity, as having "little skill".
It acknowledges the need for an increased supply and standard of service, but it is likely that the right people will be att5racted to such work if it is perceived as requiring "little skill"?
Tesco also send out a range of mixed messages. It undertakes to ensure high standards, but is it possible that parents' expectations of those caring for their children would be that they exert "a low level of mental effort and no significant physical effort"? It promises to recruit local staff, appreciate their contribution and regard them as partners; I wonder if Ms Louise O'Toole would agree?
Tesco appreciates customers' comments in order to allow them to deliver on their commitments. Perhaps they should ask their customers, the majority of whom are parents or future parents, if they consider that the staff employed to provide a safe, caring and educational environment for their children should be expected to less skilled then those responsible for stacking shelves and cleaning floors. - Is mise,
Denise McCormilla, Project Manager, Border Counties, Childcare Network, Monaghan.