Fathers, know your rights!

On Thursday, the Employment and Training Corporation organised a national seminar entitled 'Men on parental leave'. This was the last phase of the European project 'Modern Men in an enlarged Europe', which Malta participated in together with Lithuania, Denmark and Iceland.

The seminar kicked off with an introduction by Anna Borg, of the ETC Gender Equality Unit, who gave an overview of the project and partner countries before going into more detail on the Maltese context.

The second presentation by Celia Callus focused on the research findings with Maltese employers and fathers on parental leave.

The session that followed kept all those present spellbound as Riccardo and Lorna Flask, a married couple, shared their experiences on the use of parental leave. Mr Flask, a teacher, repeated that during the year he spent raising his son he matured and grew holistically. It was a fruitful experience, which he treasures despite its challenges!

The last session of the seminar took the form of a discussion, chaired by Peppi Azzopardi, tackling the issue from different perspectives, including those of the employer. All those present took an active role, sharing, discussing and debating during what turned out to be an engaging and somewhat heated session.

Data of the Maltese scenario confirms that the predominant share of parental leave is taken by women and highlights the reluctance of men, and possibly even women, to move from their traditional gender stereotyped roles. Only a mere 1.6 per cent of all parental leave is applied for by men. Moreover, 84 per cent of men interviewed across Europe are not taking parental leave and do not intend to do so (Euro Barometer survey, 2004).

In conclusion: the aim of parental leave is not to change roles but to open new opportunities for both men and women... it could permit mothers and fathers alike to have a meaningful and significant role both at work and within the family.

One has to view parental leave against the backdrop of a lifetime of work. If a worker works from the age of 21 to 61 and chose to take the three months of parental leave offered in the private sector, it would sum up to 0.6 per cent of total working time. A small price to pay to play for an active role in our children's upbringing!