The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations has made a case for a childcare centre to be established within the Mater Dei Hospital grounds.

It said that it had to be borne in mind that the health sector was predominantly staffed by women, and that research indicated that it was still women who carried most of the burden of child rearing and child care. This was “profound justification” for the government to ensure that these women were not forced to opt out of the labour market due to inadequate childcare services, the confederation said.

An on-site childcare centre would offer parents the opportunity to take their children directly to their place of work without the inconvenience of having to ferry them elsewhere every day before and after work. It would also give parents the opportunity to keep in close contact with the carers on a regular basis in order to exchange vital information concerning their children.

Thirdly, many women may need the convenience of an on-site childcare centre soon after returning from maternity leave, some in order to continue breastfeeding, in line with the government’s policy on the rights of breastfeeding.

The confederation said the government could consider various options to offer an on-site service, such as by investigating the possibility of establishing a private-public partnership or a cooperative to run a childcare centre.

Apart from the Mater Dei childcare centre, another important factor that should be taken into consideration by the government was the nation-wide necessity for more comprehensive childcare services to cater for children between the ages of three and 12, before and after school hours and during holiday periods.

In the light of Malta’s low female employment rate and dwindling birth rate, the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations felt that a caring and supportive government had “an obligation to address this issue without further delay”.

In its reply, the Mater Dei Hospital administration said that childcare facilities available at St Luke’s Hospital will continue to be provided when the new hospital is opened.

At present, St Luke’s child-minding facilities were available for children aged between one and three, and this will continue to be the case when Mater Dei Hospital is up and running.