After the Social Welfare Bureau (IAS) decided late last month to terminate financial assistance for Smart Nursery in Taipa after August 26 due to the “inability to reach a consensus” on some basic principles and important arrangements regarding cooperation between the two sides, the crèche has recently issued a follow-up statement accusing the bureau of having “improperly” obtained personal and contact information of parents from the crèche and then contacted them, in response to which the bureau has told public broadcaster TDM that due to ongoing legal proceedings it cannot comment on the accusations.
The bureau late last month decided to terminate cooperation with the crèche after August 26 according to which it will no longer provide financial assistance for the crèche’s operation and will repossess the venue where the crèche is operating and all relevant equipment there.
Smart Nursery is operated by Zonta Club of Macau.
The bureau underlined in a statement late last month that the reason for terminating cooperation with the crèche was not due to any issues in caring for the children, and instead it was due to the “inability to reach a consensus” on some basic principles and important arrangements regarding the cooperation following long-time communication between the two sides.
The crèche said in a statement last week that while the bureau was aware that the cooperation agreement has still not been terminated, the bureau had “improperly” obtained personal and contact information of parents from the crèche and then directly contacted them, telling them that the crèche would close down and telling them to choose other day nurseries.
The crèche’s statement last week accused the bureau of “abuse of power, which is illegal and violates the principles of good faith” stipulated in the cooperation agreement. The statement also accused the bureau of “inappropriate and illegal conduct” that “have harmed the interests of all parties involved.”
The statement also said that the long-term communication and discussions between the two sides only concerned the technical application of Macau’s accounting system and legal technicalities and did not involve any significant arrangements on cooperation principles.
The bureau told public broadcaster TDM on Sunday that due to ongoing legal proceedings it could not comment on the accusations made by the crèche.
Neither the crèche nor the bureau clarified in their respective statements and reported remarks the reason for having been unable to reach a consensus.
This undated handout photo downloaded from Smart Nursery’s website yesterday shows its entrance.
