Labour backs temporary quotas for women
Labour leader Alfred Sant said today that he backed the idea of having quotas to ensure women are appointed to top positions, but said these should be removed once equality has been achieved in practice.
Speaking during an MLP seminar on the occasion of Women’s Day, which will be marked on Saturday, Dr Sant said that a Labour government would aim for a minimum of 30 per cent of public appointments and 20 per cent of diplomatic representatives to be women.
He said that although the present government was originally against quotas, it now seemed to have taken a step back and he would like to see a consensus on this so that nationwide decisions would also reflect women’s lifestyle.
The Labour leader said that his party, once in government, would work to increase the participation of women in the employment and social world.
Malta, he pointed out, was the European country with the lowest participation of women in employment.
Labour’s plan for a new beginning recognised the fact that women were also mothers and their employment should reflect this perspective. The party had proposals regarding childcare centres and child carers.
On flexitime, Dr Sant said that in many instances, this was just on paper. It had to be implemented in practice. There was also discrimination at places of work and this had to be dealt with.
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JOHN SCERRI
Mar 5th 2008, 19:50
While I appreciate that Dr. Sant and everyone else in the political sector agree that women should participate more in the employment and social world including management posts, politics etc. and all that till now has been pictured as a man's world I do not agree that fixing quotas would be the answer.
If one looks at University students alone there are 60% who are females and there is no quota.
It is OUR culture that is still not up to date with the modern world.
Words like postman, chairman,spokesman, should be changed to a generic word - 'Person'.
Women can do anything men can do today .
What men wrongly expect from women is for them to go to work and at the same time take care of the housework, go shopping, sit down and help the children with their homework,wash the clothes, cook,wash the dishes and all that which comes with being a housewife 24/7-no holidays , sickleave - nothing.
This mentality is very incorrect and it is about time all of us realise we have to change.
Men have to understand that they must share the obligations and responsabilities of companionship together with their partners and this means sharing all that i mentioned above.
If men - I am not putting all men in one basket here - will are ready to share the everyday chores, than..yes.. women will take the initiative to seek satisfaction in jobs of responsibility because they will know that the weight of their personal everyday life is being carried by two persons - We are still stuck in bad old customs - One only sees bars full of men , smoking, drinking ,chatting, while their partners are at home doing all the donkey work till late, and God forbid if the shirt is not ironed for tomorrow . How many men reading this now know how to iron their shirt , cook,wash the dishes,floors,hang up the laundry,clean the bath rooms,take out the rubbish, wash the clothes.
All you Women - you must teach your men to do these things - My mother thought me and my brothers so why should you not do the same.
Than we can talk about EQUALITY - Women should have equal opportunities but this can only be possible if most men take off their pride and share EVERYTHING with their companion not just what they like.
E. Tabone
Mar 5th 2008, 18:03
Dr Sant disgusts me!! I'm a proud female .. and in no way would I want a job that was pre-planned for a woman!! I want to get a job because I deserve it, and if that means losing an interview to a male, then so be it. If Dr Sant believed that females are equal to males, he knows that there wouldn't be the need for this "quota". Shame on you Dr. Sant! Look at the amount of female students at UOM.. and for those who need to be enlightened, there are far more females than males... What is he going to do here? Issue a "quota" for male students that make it into university? Shame! Shame! Shame! This is not the 40s! A female has a right to be hired/fired on her credentials and not because she is pitied because of her sex. You make me feel ridiculed and you're insulting my intelligence. Your experience doesn't speak alot for yourself, I'm sure I (a female) can do it better!
On a lighter note... I'd like to wish all the females "Happy Woman's Day!"
R. Buttigieg
Mar 5th 2008, 17:53
This is good. Yet will anyone take a look at what kind of vacancies one can find available during these times?
As time passes jobs with a higher standard of education is sought after. This is already a limiting factor. Having said this, and taking into consideration the fact that the MP's are looking at Malta as an equal opportunistic country, job openings such as "Sales Girls", can still be found. This means that a man cannot apply for such a job since the title already limits the vacancy to one gender, FEMALES. Is this equality or Chauvinism? Will anyone ever address such issues? Will this country ever start thinking for a brighter future where really and truly all can work together? Shall we continue putting such restrictions where people with low level of scholar education cannot find a suitable job for them???
John Grima
Mar 5th 2008, 17:48
So now we appoint people because of their gender not their ability. It does not matter whether the lady who is appointed is able to do the job or not. Come on Dr. Sant, do you need to go to this extent to pick up a few extra votes. You seem to be promising everything to everyone in order to get into power.