Entire public sector 'must' implement family-friendly measures

The government has issued a circular that in effect compels all public service entities to implement the family-friendly measures that exist in the civil service.

The circular, issued by Principal Permanent Secretary Godwin Grima to all permanent secretaries, says that the measures are applicable to the public sector with immediate effect unless there are very good reasons to opt for a temporary delay.

One of the most important family-friendly measures that has been adopted in the public service but which has been resisted in some public sector entities is that employees can opt to work reduced hours and can chose between working 20, 25 or 30 hours a week in order to look after children under the age of 12.

Dr Grima also informed permanent secretaries that where serious difficulties existed, the Management and Personnel Office at the Office of the Prime Minister would discuss such matters on a one-to-one basis with the entity concerned, taking into account the period when the respective collective agreement would be coming up for review.

"All collective agreements, currently being negotiated, however, must include a provision whereby all current measures are also made applicable to public sector entities," he concluded.

When contacted, Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina said the government had set the example with regard to family-friendly measures that have now been extended to the entire public sector, benefiting a further 13,000 workers.

"This has been done in view of the increasing number of working parents, a reality we are faced with and which must, therefore, be translated into services and measures to benefit this emerging group of people," Ms Cristina said.

"In the private sector, work is being carried out to mirror these measures and to actively start introducing family-friendly measures. In fact, one can even say that a number of private enterprises are also well ahead in their development in this sphere, something the government will surely encourage further," she said.