The government has unveiled its plans for free childcare centres from April 1.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said free childcare services will be offered to all working parents, who may opt to send their children to whichever childcare centre they wish, public or private.

The childcare centres will be paid €3 per hour by the government.

The scheme is aimed at encouraging mothers(and fathers) to work or to study. The free childcare services will therefore be addressed at working mothers and mothers who are still students, but not stay-at-home mothers. Mothers who are already in employment will be eligible for free childcare for their children.

The childcare benefit will be calculated on the basis of the working hours of the mother, plus an extra hour daily and 10 per cent over the total amount, to allow for flexibility. Childcare services may be available on any day of the week.

Mr Bartolo said Malta currently had the lowest number of children in childcare centres, at 19% (2,200). It was hoped that this number would double. There are currently 70 childcare centres in Malta, of which 55 are private.

He said the government would insist that the children should have an educational experience in the childcare centres.

Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said an initial €4 million were being invested in the scheme.  He said women's participation in the labour force was up 4% in the past year and it was hoped that the free childcare service would see a further boost.