The Nationalist Party wants the government to enter a constructive dialogue with childcare centre operators, parents, and all relevant stakeholders in wake of some reports indicating that some families - due to financial pressure - continue to send their sick children to childcare to ensure that they'll avoid fines for missed attendance.
In a statement, the PN said that these concerns, which have been raised by parents and childcare centre operators, regarding fines linked to non-attendance under the free childcare scheme "deserves serious attention and must be addressed without delay."
The party in Opposition said that this situation affects the wellbeing of the children being sent to childcare when unwell, as well as the health of the other children and dedicated workers at the centres.
The Nationalist Party said that the sustainability and fairness of the childcare scheme must be safeguarded, especially when "important social policy" has enabled so many parents, particularly mothers, to participate in the labour market and provide for their families.
Simultaneously, the PN said that "no parent should feel penalised for acting responsibly by keeping their child at home when they are genuinely unwell."
"Young children will inevitably become ill, and public policy should encourage responsible health decisions rather than discourage them," the PN said.
The PN said that through the constructive dialogue that it is pushing for, government representatives seek a solution whereby all these factors are acknowledged and for childcare centres, "this means avoiding the transmission of illness to other children and to staff" - as safeguarding public health requires.
From an operating standpoint, the PN mentioned that when centres do not have enough employees available, this can affect the number of children they are able to accommodate, given the obligation to comply with stipulated carer-to-child ratios.
It observed that a petition submitted by parents and childcare operators alike presents practical proposals "that deserve careful consideration," including the argument that perhaps absences certified by a doctor should be treated differently from other absences - as long as any changes come with safeguards to deter and prevent systematic abuse, so that public funds can continue to be used responsibly.
The Nationalist Party said it wants government to review the existing childcare framework and identify whether improvements can be introduced to protect children's health, while continuing to support working families, and while safeguarding the childcare scheme's long-term sustainability.
"Good public policy is achieved by listening, assessing the evidence and making the necessary adjustments in a balanced manner. This is an opportunity to do exactly that," the PN said.
This PN statement was signed by Shadow Minister for Education Jerome Caruana Cilia, Shadow Minister for Social Policy Ivan Bartolo and spokesperson for Family and Children's Policy, Norma Camilleri.