Brussels proposes additional four weeks of maternity leave
Government studying proposals
The European Commission has proposed to extend maternity leave by four more weeks, which would bring the total to 18 weeks, a measure applicable to both workers and self-employed.
The proposal - aimed at increasing the work-life balance of families in the EU - is being studied by the government and a spokesman declined to comment on whether Malta would vote in favour of this proposal at EU Council level.
"In principle we are in favour of more incentives for women to remain in the labour market. However, we still need to look into the details of these proposals and they also include costs for both taxpayers and employers. It is too early to say whether Malta will support this proposal."
Malta has the lowest female participation rate in the labour market in the EU.
Announcing the new "family package" in Brussels, EU Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla said that having children often cost women their income and job prospects.
"Only 65.5 per cent of women with dependent children work, compared with 91.7 per cent of men. Our proposals to improve maternity leave will help women to combine work and family life - improving their own and their families' quality of life. They should also help increase women's participation in the labour market."
Under the new proposed directive, women will have to be paid 100 per cent of their salary but with a possibility for member states to set a ceiling on sick pay.
Women will have more flexibility over when to take the non-compulsory portion of their leave (before or after childbirth). In Malta, women have to take a minimum of four weeks before and six after birth.
There will also be more protection against dismissal and a right to return to the same job or an equivalent one after maternity leave.
An option to ask the employer for flexible working patterns at the end of maternity leave will also be introduced, although the employer will have the right to refuse such a request.
With regard to self-employed women, it is being proposed that they should have the same access to maternity leave as employees, but on a voluntary basis - choosing if they want to leave work on maternity leave or not.
This proposal will now have to get the backing of EU member states and the European Parliament to become law.