According to the European Commission’s country-specific [recommendations] for Malta, “the employment rate of women still remains low, parenthood still has a significant effect on the participation of women on the labour market, and the gender employment gap is the highest in the EU.”...To this end, a call is currently open for project proposals under the European Regional Development Fund...Involving national funds and necessitating private investment, the grant scheme addresses the link between the low female participation rate in the labour market and the availability of affordable, quality child care facilities. The scheme will allow organisations from the private sectors and NGOs to access financial support to introduce or upgrade, or relocate childcare facilities...This may be obtained through direct employment of females within the sector itself, and through encouraging entrepreneurship and triggering the setting up of new businesses. The initiative will also lead to the retention and re-entry of female employees in the labour market.