ETC proposes that schools double as childcare centres

The Gender Equality Unit at the Employment and Training Corporation has proposed making use of schools as childcare centres to assist working parents.

The unit is urging the government to create a national scheme for before and after school hours to make it possible for parents to work longer hours.

Using teachers other than those working during ordinary school hours, the programme could include sports, drama, dance and supervised homework, unit head Anna Borg said yesterday.

The unit is also calling for the extension of the opening hours of existing childcare centres.

Ms Borg was speaking during a press conference to launch the corporation's third Gender Equality Action Plan for 2007 and 2008.

Family Minister Dolores Cristina, who attended the press conference, said the government has identified three state schools where childcare would be provided. She did not, however name the schools.

Once these "central" centres were opened, the government could look at opening others in other schools.

Ms Cristina said a new centre in Birkirkara - a partnership between the government and the local council - was expected to open its doors soon while others in Valletta and St Paul's Bay were in the pipeline.

She said it was important that these centres were financially accessible for users.

They would not simply provide a babysitting service but would allow children to start their schooling from a young age.

The ETC action plan recommends increasing the use of urgent family leave to cover periods when children are sick and the passing of legislation to extend opportunities for flexible working hours, especially for those working in the private sector.

It also recommends a review of the benefits system. Unless there was a substantial gap between benefits and the minimum wage, there would not be much incentive for people to get a job, Ms Borg said.

Although it was important to encourage women to go out to work, it was imperative to support those in need, the minister noted.

She expressed concern about women in the black economy, who risked being exploited and would have problems when they came to obtaining a pension.

A number of women were opting for part-time work and it was important that they be entitled to benefits.

The government was considering the introduction of specific benefits for those who work more than eight hours a week.

Flexible work was an investment for companies, although some had still not realised this. While legislation was important, education was needed to encourage employers to consider employees as an investment and create the right conditions to keep them on their books.

The government was preparing a policy paper on teleworking enabling people to work from home.

While the number of employed women was still low, things needed to be seen in the local context. Malta should not be compared to Scandinavian countries which have a radically different culture, the minister added.

The female employment rate has gone up marginally from 33.2 per cent in 2000 to 34.9 per cent last year.