Work on equality issues

It is baffling, to say the least, to witness how Simona Lippi leaps to conclusions on the political set-up of equality issues here in Malta (So They May Truly Be Equal, July 10).

It seems that Ms Lippi based herself on the fact that Malta does not have a ministry carrying an identical name to one in Italy. Allow me a cliché, borrowing from the Bard's words: "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet"! This is to say that what is crucial is the substance and certainly not the name carried by a Ministry.

Assuming that women in Malta are perceived solely as family members is erroneous and limiting, although of course women are family members too. Our Ministry carries a long enough title as it is, it would be ridiculous and Monty Pythonesque for us to include all our policy areas in our name as it would read something along the lines of "Ministry for Children (yes, they are also treated as a separate policy area to family, although no-one would dispute that they are an integral part of the family), the Family, Social Benefits, Social Welfare, Pensions, Addictive Behaviour, Disability, Gender Equality (both women and men), Housing, Non-Governmental Organisations and Community Support".

I invite Ms Lippi to take a look at our home page by visiting www.mfss.gov.mt and she will see that all the above mentioned policy areas are listed separately and, more importantly, all have departments and agencies which work to fulfil their remit.

The Ministry for the Family and Social Solidarity (MFSS) is constantly involved in work pertaining to equality issues, including that of actively lowering the gender pay gap which exists, as also stated by Ms Lippi, across the EU and not solely in Malta, making this a world-wide challenge. The Ministry does this particularly through the sterling work carried out by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality of Men and Women (NCPE) ensuring development in policy, legislation, services and practices. A cursory look at NCPE's webpage www.equality.gov.mt will also prove to Ms Lippi that one of her very suggestions is core to this body: the words "every task can be carried out by both men and women" appear on every screen chosen from the homepage.

In addition, this commission liaises with other ministries and is therefore able to formulate policies, services and legislation relevant to equality issues in all areas of government, somewhat like the Italian Equal Opportunities Ministry if Ms Lippi's interpretation is taken to be correct. Gender mainstreaming has been identified by the government as the way forward and this is apparent in all the work carried out, in the first place by the same commission which is in fact carrying out a vital project funded by the European Social Fund called Gender Mainstreaming - The Way Forward. This project will come to an end in September when the results of research carried out will be presented. NCPE itself liaises with many other government entities and ministries.

In fact, Ms Lippi will also be interested to know that the government has already begun to undertake the path she suggests with, for example, the Ministry of Finance introducing a one-year tax-free break for women returning to work after five years and allowing married couples who submit a joint tax declaration to be eligible for a fixed tax rate of 15 per cent on their second employment, with a ceiling of income of Lm3,000.

Through the Commission, the government is also ensuring that clear messages are transmitted to the Maltese population through the various EU funded projects that NCPE has undertaken with a particular one, an EQUAL project called Nahdmu, u Kif! (We're happy to work) this year targeting the media and choosing to use role models to encourage women to re-enter the work force.

Ms Lippi also makes reference to the scourge of domestic violence. I would like to remind Ms Lippi that this government has just passed the Domestic Violence Act and a Commission on Domestic Violence has been instituted, a development the government is justly very proud of and a definite commitment on the government's part to take firm action against this crime. In addition, Agenzija Appogg was designated as the agency responsible for the services identified in the Domestic Violence Act. Domestic violence has also been identified as one of the key areas of focus for the National Action Plan on Social Inclusion and Exclusion by the Social Inclusion Office within MFSS.

The Department for Social Security (within our ministry) has been working together with the Employment and Training Corporation (within the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment) and recently held a seminar on "Lone Mothers" which made use of research carried out locally to suggest policies and strategies to encourage these mothers back into the work force.

In conclusion, while it is clear that there is still quite a bit of the road to travel, the government is certainly focusing its energies towards achieving equality across the board.

Ms Lippi is invited to document herself thoroughly on the realities on the ground. Any constructive, practical feedback can then surely be discussed by herself and the relevant bodies.