Being a single mother trying to juggle childcare with working in Bermuda is becoming an increasingly difficult task, writes Alex Wright.

One such 21-year-old Bermudian employee of a Hamilton-based company, who asked not to be named, is finding it particularly hard to achieve that balancing act with a lack of availability and affordability of childcare on the Island.

She has been working for the firm for a little more than a year now and had her baby two months ago. After taking her maternity leave she returned to work at the beginning of January, but has really struggled to even find a nanny to look after her baby, or an affordable one at that.

Her typical day starts at 5 a.m. when she takes her baby to her aunt, who has agreed to take care of the baby until she finds a nanny, and often she is tired by the time she gets to work, let alone at the end of the day when she has to pick up her baby again, all of which combines to put a big financial and emotional strain on her.

“It seems that nobody can accommodate new-born babies or children under the age of one, so no one can find a babysitter,” she said.

“Portuguese nannies are very good with children, but Government do not want to process their contracts.

“I was brought up by a Portuguese nanny and she was very good, but once their leases expire, they were told they would not be renewed. I am still looking around for someone, but there is nobody — it is crazy.”

She would like Government to step in and introduce a childcare scheme for children under the age of one year, after which they become eligible for child support from Government.

But, for now, it is just a case of making ends meet, with the continual worry of having to find someone to look after her baby at the same time as trying to earn a decent living.