“I should never have done this job“, regrets one of the family assistants present. This woman, who does not wish to give her name, is exhausted and disgusted with how little consideration is given to one’s profession. “We’re exhausted, it’s an everyday investment, we work 24/7“, explains one of her colleagues, Régine, who takes care of two children in Nord-Finistère.
Better salary and real status
“We are paid at the minimum wage for the reception of a first child, but it is still insufficient. It’s a job that takes up a lot of space in our life, in that of our family, with very negative repercussions “, she adds. The profiles of children are increasingly psychiatry or medicine, “and we are not caregivers!“Beyond better remuneration, family assistants also demand a real status. Currently, they are contractual but under CDI. If there are no more children, they no longer receive real wages.
“There is no other profession like this”
Today, there are only 650 family assistants left in the department, compared to nearly 900 ten years ago. “The profession can no longer recruit because the drawbacks are too numerous. When you welcome a difficult child, your family and friends turn their backs on you. You only have 35 days off and you don’t have a quiet weekend“, accuses Christine, family assistant for 20 years.”No, there really is no other job like it. Today many of my colleagues intend to quit because for the same salary you can work elsewhere, in much better conditions.“, she concludes.
The departmental council responds
In a press release, the departmental council of Finistère wishes “recall his commitment“towards the profession. He indicates that he has increased the remuneration of these professionals by 180 euros per month. from April 1, 2021. Since the same date, the departmental council says it has increased mileage allowances by 15%. Discussions with representatives of family assistants “are continuing to refine these measures by 2022“.
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