Since the early 1990s, a small number of government organisations have taken the initiative to offer childcare arrangements for employees.
These arrangements are provided either through in-house services or by financially helping those employees using external facilities during working hours.
Childcare at the workplace complements other family-friendly measures already being offered on a wider scale to public employees.
In addition, staff can benefit from other initiatives launched by the government to encourage and facilitate access to childcare.
The National Audit Office (NAO) recently concluded a comprehensive review of childcare initiatives tailored for employees in the public service and in the wider public sector.
The study evaluated how different childcare solutions were introduced, developed and managed over the years; the systems and resources that were required to operate such initiatives; and the respective challenges, risks, costs and benefits of each measure.
Fieldwork included structured interviews and consultations with six organisations - the Employment and Training Corporation, Malta Information Technology Agency, Mater Dei Hospital, rehabilitation hospital Karin Grech, University of Malta and Water Services Corporation. These organisations were successful in providing, over the years, access to affordable and reliable childcare services for a considerable number of public employees.
The Department for Social Welfare Standards (DSWS) within the Ministry of Education, Employment and the Family is responsible for government policy on childcare and the development of standards for the provision of such services.
DSWS assists childcare service providers in developing facilities in line with established standards as well as registering childcare facilities meeting all criteria.
The Management and Personnel Office department is responsible for formulating, launching and monitoring policies that improve work conditions of public officers.
In all six case studies, childcare initiatives were part of an overall management drive and culture to improve work conditions and provide a more supportive work environment.
In addition, three organisations said such arrangements were specifically introduced to retain key employees and attract new staff. One of the case studies was even pressured by staff members and a trade union to give priority to childcare.
Experience has shown it is difficult to accurately and reliably estimate take-up of childcare arrangements in the medium- and long-term. Demand can be higher than expected and this might lead to detrimental waiting lists.
On the other hand, requests to use these services can dwindle over the years making an in-house service too expensive to maintain.
The internal function responsible for corporate services was found to be usually the most involved in the preliminary evaluation and development of these initiatives. The feasibility of an in-house childcare centre needs to be carefully assessed due to the stringent requirements of various authorities and the costs involved.
Securing an appropriate area for childcare can be a major obstacle. In addition, specialised staff members need to be engaged and rigorous policies and systems developed to ensure adequate safety, security and protection.
Alternative arrangements, such as outsourcing childcare to a third party service provider, or giving staff an allowance, can be easier to plan and manage. In all cases, only a proportion of the total childcare costs are, in practice, recovered.
The results of this study have been published in a report that was tabled in Parliament last June. The document includes a number of key recommendations on how organisations - depending on their individual circumstances - can exploit opportunities to offer childcare.
It also lists the aspects that need to be carefully reviewed before embarking on such initiatives. NAO said that guidelines defining the objectives and conditions of such arrangements should be developed for the public administration.
Furthermore, the office recommends the government expedites the introduction of legislation to adequately regulate the provision of childcare services on a national scale. Current incentives to the private sector and other interested parties to develop and operate childcare should also continue to be sustained.
A copy of the report is available on the NAO website www.nao.gov.mt.