US President Joe Biden came into office promising to fix the nation’s childcare crisis and touting affordability for families. However, he did not manage to gain support from the centrists in his party and the legislation failed in Congress.
The White House came up with another way to help parents by using the CHIPS Act, the law aimed at boosting the nation’s semiconductor sector.
The Biden administration released new guidance for its US$52 billion semiconductor manufacturing and research programme last month, which will require firms to enhance employment and contribute to its workforce’s childcare needs.
The conditions will apply to companies such as tech giant Intel, which is building a US$20 billion chip-making campus in Ohio.
CHILDCARE FOR SUBSIDIES
Under the new guidance, any company building a chip factory in the US and applying to get a slice of the billions of dollars in federal subsidies must guarantee affordable, high-quality childcare for workers who build or operate a plant.
Apart from childcare, the Commerce Department also wants firms to detail “specific commitments” to hire and train workers, offer competitive wages, and expand employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged individuals.
“We’re in a very tight labour market and we’re about to create hundreds of thousands of jobs,” said Commerce Secretary Gina Raimond.
“We will not succeed without a trained workforce to meet this mission. We need to open the pipeline to women.”
Amid these initiatives to improve childcare in the country and a push for diversity in the workplace, Leyla’s father hopes there will be opportunities in his daughter’s future.
Despite the challenges the Ozsancak family continues to face, the goal is for Leyla to complete high school and go to university.
“I think she will have her challenges for the rest of her life. But she has us and her younger sister to support her,” said Hakan.
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