Though Malta has still a long way to catch up with the EU in terms of female participation in the workforce, statistics show the country is moving fast.
During the opening ceremony of the latest childcare facility in Naxxar, the ninth by the Government’s Foundation for Educational Services, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi yesterday said Malta was rising to the challenge in this area and achieving considerable results.
“Over the past five years we invested €1 million every year in new facilities. This meant more women in employment and we are committed to continue to increase support services to families in this sector,” Dr Gonzi said.
The childcare centre, adjacent to the boys’ secondary school, is equipped with the latest facilities and will cater for children between three months and three years.
Since 2008, nine such facilities were opened by the foundation, which also operates similar centres with the private sector.
According to Roderick Agius, the foundation’s CEO, the facilities cater for 800 children and the idea is to have more through new centres in San Ġwann, Gżira and Żurrieq to open by the end of this year.
Opening between 7.30am and 4pm, the facilities provide professional caring services and parents are charged according to their financial means.
While the service is free for those earning below €10,000 a year, the highest fee is €150 a month for those earning more than €20,000 annually.
Dr Gonzi said childcare services were just a part of the Government’s strategy. He mentioned in this connection the introduction of after-school services for children aged between three and 16, now being offered at 15 different centres, and tax incentives for the private sector to invest in new facilities.
He said 2,300 parents sending their children to private childcare facilities were being given a tax credit of €1,300 a year and another 2,800 women were paying less tax through a scheme specifically for women returning to work.
For the future, Dr Gonzi said the Government intended increasing its services and boost investment up to €5 million a year through a system of vouchers to be redeemed in childcare services of the parent’s choice.
He said all parents would be entitled to such a facility, including those choosing to continue to study.