What is the difference between the blacklist for schools and the one required for kindergartens?

The CDPE already maintains a national list of teachers whose qualification for sexual offences has been revoked. Schools may check this list before hiring staff. There is no equivalent system for nurseries: each Canton has its own procedures, without national coordination. A national blacklist for kindergartens would fill this gap, preventing professionals with a history of abuse from moving between Cantons without a trace.

When will the national kindergarten blacklist be available?

The Federal Council has not yet decided to implement it. It rejected Nina Fehr Düsel's motion saying it will consider the possibility after completing a comprehensive report on sexual abuse. The report will be submitted no later than the end of 2027. Only then will the government make a choice about concrete measures such as the blacklist.

What can I do today as a parent to protect my child?

Ask the facility directly what checks have been carried out on the background of the staff. Check to see if your canton requires a federal certificate of good conduct for educators. If you have any doubts about the traceability of staff, please contact the relevant cantonal office (usually the reception facilities coordination office). Report any concerns to local authorities.

Has the motion been approved or rejected?

The motion was tabled in Parliament with cross-party support from MEPs. However, the Federal Council has rejected the request, at least for now, saying it prefers to wait for the results of the government's report on sexual abuse by the end of 2027. Parliament could press the issue again once the report is published.

How will the blacklist work, once implemented?

According to Fehr Düsel's motion, a national blacklist should work like the one for schools: a centralized list of professionals whose sex crimes license has been revoked. The reception facilities will be able to verify the background of the candidates before hiring them, preventing educators with a background from finding work in another Canton without a trace. The procedural details (governance, access, data protection) will be defined in the government report being prepared.

Nurseries: Parliament requests blacklist for staff

By Redazione Frontaliere Ticino (AI-generated text) · Published on 3 September 2026 · Updated on 8 October 2026

Modern Swiss neighborhood with childcare facilities representing child safety in daycare centers

Cross-cutting motion to the Federal Council to prevent childcare abuse. The government stalls and promises a report by the end of 2027.

Context

In brief

National councillor calls for a national blacklist for kindergarten educators
Model for the list already exists for school teachers
Federal Council delays: report expected by the end of 2027
Motion signed across party lines by deputies from all parties

Key facts

Who: Nina Fehr Düsel (SVP/ZH), Federal Council, Swiss Parliament
What: Motion to establish a national blacklist for kindergarten staff involved in sexual abuse
When: Motion submitted; government report by the end of 2027
Where: Bern, at the federal level
Why: Prevent educators with a history of abuse from moving between cantons without trace

Cases of sexual abuse in kindergartens have prompted Parliament to react. National Councillor Nina Fehr Düsel (SVP/Zurich) has submitted a motion asking the Federal Council to establish a national blacklist for staff in these childcare facilities, modeled after the existing list for schools.

The Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK) already maintains a list of individuals who have had their teaching license revoked due to criminal offenses, including sexual crimes. The purpose is to prevent them from working in other cantons.

The regulatory void in kindergartens

Educators in childcare facilities do not have a similar tool. According to Fehr Düsel, a centralized list would be even more important in kindergartens: it would prevent professionals who have committed abuse from moving to another canton without trace to find new employment. Schools are promptly informed of any issues in case of multiple employments; kindergartens are not.

The motion received cross-party support from deputies of all parties, indicating widespread consensus on the issue. However, in its recently published response, the Federal Council decided to delay and rejected the motion.

The government explained that it is preparing a comprehensive report on sexual abuse committed against minors. The investigation will examine the issue in various socialization contexts, particularly in out-of-home childcare facilities, and will also assess the possibility of creating blacklists. The report will be presented by the end of 2027 at the latest.

The executive asks to wait for the results of this report before taking concrete measures. However, political pressure continues to grow: the cross-party signature of the motion suggests that the government may need to speed up the process.

Operational details

Current system: differences between schools and daycare centers

The protection of minors in Swiss educational institutions relies on established tools. The CDPE coordinates nationally the data on teachers who have lost their certification for disciplinary reasons, including sexual offenses. This system allows schools to verify the background of candidates and to communicate between Cantons to prevent the transfer of unfit personnel.

For daycare centers and childcare facilities, there is no equivalent. Verification procedures vary from Canton to Canton, and there is no national coordination. An educator who has committed abuse in one Canton could theoretically find work in another, unless the victim also files a complaint there — a scenario that exposes children to significant risks. If you are a parent looking for information on certified childcare facilities in your Canton, it is useful to delve into local regulations.

Why the pressure is growing

The Fehr Düsel motion has been signed by parliamentarians from the right, center, left, and greens. This cross-party consensus reflects a genuine and widespread concern for the safety of childcare facilities. The Parliament, in short, has sent a clear message: the issue is not divisive, but urgent.

The Federal Council cannot easily ignore a motion so widely supported, even if it has formally rejected it. It is likely that the 2027 deadline for the report on sexual abuse will provide the opportunity to adopt concrete measures, including the creation of a national blacklist.

What would change for the Cantons and facilities

A national blacklist would have significant administrative implications. Each Canton is responsible for the authorization and supervision of daycare centers within its territory. A centralized list would require coordination between the cantonal authorities (probably through the CDPE or a federal agency), standardized procedures for reporting abuse cases, guaranteed access to childcare facilities, and protection of personal data for those under investigation. Implementation is not immediate: it requires a legal basis, clear governance, and investments in IT infrastructure. The delay in the federal response probably reflects this complexity.

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Key points

Timeline and next steps

Anyone who is a parent or educator in Switzerland should not wait passively for the government report in 2027. Today it is possible to take concrete actions:

Parents. Check if your Canton has a system of certificates of good conduct ("Federal Certificate of Good Conduct") for kindergarten staff. Some Cantons already require it when signing the contract; others do not. Ask the facility directly which checks have been carried out on the background of the staff. You can contact the competent cantonal office (normally the coordination office of the reception facilities or an educational office) to report concerns. For issues related to parental leave and family rights, many cantonal offices offer updated guidelines.

Reception facilities. If you are managers of a kindergarten, it is advisable to adopt, from now on, stricter staff verification procedures, even in advance of national legislation. Check compliance with current cantonal laws and consider registering staff with voluntary certification systems.

Monitoring. The federal report on sexual abuse, expected by the end of December 2027, will be a milestone. It must contain concrete recommendations on the blacklist and other prevention measures. It is likely that a federal consultation with the Cantons will follow before a possible legislative change.

Where to find information

To deepen the cantonal regulations on kindergartens, consult the competent authority of your Canton. The Federal Council will publish the report on the website of the Federal Chancellery. Interested parties (Cantons, parents' associations, educators' organizations) will have a say in the subsequent consultation.

Next step. Monitor the announcements of the Federal Council for the report expected by December 31, 2027. In the meantime, if you are involved in the world of kindergartens, check the status of the legislation in your Canton and adopt the protection measures available today. Explore the available reception facilities and the cost of living in your Canton for a conscious and informed choice.

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Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the blacklist for schools and the one required for kindergartens?: The CDPE already maintains a national list of teachers whose qualification for sexual offences has been revoked. Schools may check this list before hiring staff. There is no equivalent system for nurseries: each Canton has its own procedures, without national coordination. A national blacklist for kindergartens would fill this gap, preventing professionals with a history of abuse from moving between Cantons without a trace.
When will the national kindergarten blacklist be available?: The Federal Council has not yet decided to implement it. It rejected Nina Fehr Düsel's motion saying it will consider the possibility after completing a comprehensive report on sexual abuse. The report will be submitted no later than the end of 2027. Only then will the government make a choice about concrete measures such as the blacklist.
What can I do today as a parent to protect my child?: Ask the facility directly what checks have been carried out on the background of the staff. Check to see if your canton requires a federal certificate of good conduct for educators. If you have any doubts about the traceability of staff, please contact the relevant cantonal office (usually the reception facilities coordination office). Report any concerns to local authorities.
Has the motion been approved or rejected?: The motion was tabled in Parliament with cross-party support from MEPs. However, the Federal Council has rejected the request, at least for now, saying it prefers to wait for the results of the government's report on sexual abuse by the end of 2027. Parliament could press the issue again once the report is published.
How will the blacklist work, once implemented?: According to Fehr Düsel's motion, a national blacklist should work like the one for schools: a centralized list of professionals whose sex crimes license has been revoked. The reception facilities will be able to verify the background of the candidates before hiring them, preventing educators with a background from finding work in another Canton without a trace. The procedural details (governance, access, data protection) will be defined in the government report being prepared.