Child Care Solutions Symposium
Held on Tuesday 27th May 2008, at Hyatt Regency Trinidad
In the 2007 budget, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago proposed incentives for corporate day care and homework centers, considered essential for both development of the domestic social sector and improved national productivity. The influence on parents cannot be divorced from the health of the economy in which they live, nor can the sustainability of an economy be separated from the prospects for its children.
This critical AFETT Symposium addressed the logistical, social and economic issues surrounding the topic and was attended by company executives who had the well-being of their workforce at heart. There were two primary objectives:
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To develop recommendations to inform the formulation of Government strategies, and
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To ensure participants from both public and private sector organisations appreciate the benefits of establishing child care and homework centers in their workplaces, which will accommodate the nonstandard work hours of many parents and the lack of formal state facilities.
The Keynote Address was by Mrs. Cheryl Blackman, Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Attorney General. Already operating a model facility, the Office of the Attorney General has led the way in public sector child care solutions.
Other panelists included Martin de Gannes, General Manager, Human Resource Department, Scotiabank T&T Limited; Sandra Grey, Human Resource Relationship Manager with the National Commercial Bank Jamaica Limited; Child Psychologist Karen Moore and Senior Tax Analyst with Ernst & Young, Tricia Khan Als. They presented various perspectives on the issue, including the impact on family life, tax incentives and the practical considerations of setting up child care centers in the work place.