Labour launches draft policy on the family

The Labour Party has launched another draft policy document, this time dealing with the family.

The document, drawn up by Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, was launched by Labour leader Alfred Sant in the presence of deputy leaders Charles Mangion and Michael Falzon as well as MP Joe Mizzi on Saturday.

Dr Sant said the draft plan, which will be discussed within party circles and with interested organisations before being discussed and approved by the party general conference in January, was linked to other documents the party has already published and would be publishing.

Ms Coleiro Preca said the 40-page document was wide ranging in scope and listed proposed reforms in issues that were associated with the family, such as the Juvenile Court.

She said the document speaks about encouraging family friendly measures and aims to offer incentives to the private sector to put such measures into practice.

"In spite of all the talk about flexitime, it is still non-existent," she said.

Ms Coleiro said there were several problems with various laws and how these defined the family, and while an MLP government would not encourage relationships other than conventional marriages, it would not ignore real situations such as families with single parents. It would strive to give legal recognition to such families as well.