PEO: €17.17 million for employers that set up a nursery or offer flexible working, guide under consultation

On 21 September 2026, the Managing Authority for the Education and Employment Programme (PEO) put the guide for the call "Increasing women's participation in the labour market through support measures for employers" out for public consultation. The call has a budget of 17,166,293 euro from the ESF+ and funds employers that are legal entities in less developed regions. The money goes towards fitting out spaces for the care of children aged 0–6, partnerships with childcare providers and the introduction of flexible ways of working. Comments on the guide must be sent by 12 October 2026. The call is not yet open for submissions.

In brief

• Programme: Education and Employment Programme 2021–2027, Priority 3, specific objective ESO4.3, actions 3.c.1 and 3.c.2
• Authority: Ministry of Investments and European Projects (MIPE), through the PEO Managing Authority
• Beneficiaries: employers established as legal entities under national legislation; action 3.c.1 also mentions consortia of employers
• Total budget: 17,166,293 euro (ESF+), for less developed regions
• Type of aid: de minimis aid, under a scheme published together with the guide
• Submission period: not yet announced. It will be set once the guide is finalised
• Status: guide in public consultation, comments until 12 October 2026 at consultare.peo@mfe.gov.ro

What does the call fund?

The guide covers two PEO actions, both designed as support for the employer rather than services offered directly to individuals:

• Action 3.c.1: support for employers or consortia of employers to fit out spaces for the supervision and care of pre-school children (aged 0–6) or to enter into partnerships with entities specialising in childcare;
• Action 3.c.2: encouraging employers to use new or flexible ways of working.

The stated aim of objective ESO4.3 is balanced participation of women and men in the labour market, equal working conditions and a better work–life balance, including through access to affordable childcare services.

Who can apply?

According to the official announcement, employers operating as legal entities established and organised under national legislation can apply for funding. The call is competitive and targets less developed regions. To find out whether your company qualifies, check the guide for the list of regions and the rules on the place of implementation.

The funding is granted as de minimis aid. Your company must therefore have room within the de minimis ceiling left unused over the last three years, calculated at the level of a single undertaking. The exact conditions are set out in the de minimis scheme published together with the guide.

The minimum and maximum value of a project, the co-financing, the implementation period and the required indicators do not appear in the official press releases. They are in the documents of the guide under consultation and may change in the final version.

What has happened so far and what comes next?

• 8 September 2026: the ministry held a public consultation meeting on actions 3.c.1 and 3.c.2, with in-person and online participation.
• 21 September 2026: the guide was published for consultation, together with the de minimis aid scheme.
• 12 October 2026: last day for comments at consultare.peo@mfe.gov.ro.
• Next: the final guide and the launch of the call. The dates have not yet been announced.

Until the final guide is published, the conditions in the consultation version are indicative and may change.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation: the call is worth following for companies with many young employees, especially those with a predominantly female workforce or shift work. We have in mind manufacturing, clothing production, retail, call centres, private healthcare and logistics. The Education and Employment Programme has few calls in which companies are direct beneficiaries, and this is one of them.

What you can do now:

1. Estimate the real need. Find out how many employees have children under 6 and how many would use a workplace crèche or a place at a partner crèche. A simple internal survey, run now, will help you considerably in justifying the project.
2. Choose the right option. Your own premises require a building, authorisations and specialised staff. A partnership with an authorised childcare provider is usually simpler for small and medium-sized companies. For companies that are geographically close, a consortium of employers can share the costs.
3. Check your de minimis ceiling. Aid already received by your company and by enterprises linked to it reduces the amount you can still receive.
4. Prepare your flexible working policy. If you are targeting action 3.c.2, a written internal procedure for flexible hours or teleworking will be a solid starting point.
5. Send your comments. If a condition in the guide excludes you or is hard to meet, the consultation running until 12 October is the moment to flag it.

A common pitfall in ESF+ calls: sustainability obligations after the project ends, that is, maintaining the service or measures for a certain period. Read them carefully before you decide. You can also take the eligibility check for an initial assessment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I submit a workplace crèche project under PEO now?

No. As of 28 September 2026 the guide is only in public consultation. Submissions will begin after the final guide is published, and the launch date has not yet been announced.

What is the call budget?

The announced budget is 17,166,293 euro from the European Social Fund Plus, for less developed regions. The maximum value per project does not appear in the official press releases and must be checked in the guide.

Which companies can receive the funding?

Employers operating as legal entities established under national legislation. Consortia of employers can also apply for the fitting out of childcare spaces. The aid is granted as de minimis aid, so your company must fall within the available ceiling.

Do I have to build my own crèche to be eligible?

Not necessarily. Action 3.c.1 funds either the fitting out of spaces for the supervision and care of children aged 0–6, or partnerships with entities specialising in childcare. Separately, action 3.c.2 supports new or flexible ways of working.

Where do I send my comments on the guide?

To consultare.peo@mfe.gov.ro, by 12 October 2026.

Official sources

• MIPE – Applicant's Guide "Increasing women's participation in the labour market through support measures for employers" (public consultation)
• MIPE – Press release on the public consultation
• EU funding opportunities – PEO launches the guide for public consultation
• MIPE – Consultation meeting of 8 September 2026

Information checked on 28 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.