Wednesday, 25th February 2009 - 18:22CET
30% of births in 2006 were outside wedlock
The Social Affairs Committee has called for more family friendly measures after research showed that 54 percent of mothers are returning to their jobs within six months of giving birth.
The parliamentary committee discussed the importance of education on healthy relationships at a second meeting with Dr Angela Abela, an expert on the subject.
She told the committee that 30% of births in Malta in 2006 were outside wedlock.
A study at the University found that nearly all students saw nothing wrong in cohabitation and 42% saw cohabitation as a step towards marriage.
Dr Abela expressed concern over a growing number of reports of casual sex which stemmed from excessive drinking.
And it had also been found that 21% of young people made dates with persons then came across on the Internet.
The members of the committee agreed with Dr Abela on the need for education aimed at healthy relationships. Dr Abela said such education should start in schools. Indeed, she said, research indicated that young people wanted to learn more on how to start, maintain, or end a relationship. Many young people, she said, drank heavily to overcome their fear of starting a relationship.
Dr Abela underlined the need for a proper work-family balance. Mothers needed to be given enough time to raise their children, with their fathers. This showed the need for more family-friendly measures, not least in the private sector, which was lagging the public sector in this area.
She noted that while the European average of maternity leave is 23 weeks, in Malta it was 13 weeks.
The committee meeting was presided by Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo.
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Comments
I would consider anyone getting himself pregnant for social benefits and all the other things you mentioned to be dumb. I know from experience that no-one survives on social benefits. Tell me just how you expect to buy food and clothing for yourself and your child with 300 euro monthly without considering school expenses, an occasional treat for the child every now and then and all the other things that come up in life. Children with unknown fathers do not get accepted to Church schools easier than other children either. And if the single mum has a second child which also has an unknown father she doesn't get more than the 300 euro monthly she already gets. So please point out to me the benefits of getting pregnant at 13 and 14? 'Cos I honestly cannot see them.
30% of kids born out of wedlock includes a large percentage of those born in solid relationships, in love, and in respect. Yet since there is no divorce in Malta, such cohabitating couples who might be living a far more exemplary life than married ones, do have kids, but are considered 'out-of-wedlock'.
Are'nt we all Europeans? Should we not have the same laws? Did the EU not intervene into how many working hours one can work per week?
Perhaps the only solution would be to revise the way that social benefits are granted, to prevent abuse. This applies not only to child benefits but any form of social benefit.
Wedlock - Emphasis on the LOCK rather than the WED. Locked in for life, it is a big step for which their is no retreat once taken. It would appear that in the clear light of day some are not prepared to lock themselves into a lifetime relationship following a momentary lapse during a short fling (presuming they can remember with whom they had the lapse with) - irrespective of the female having to live with the consequences.
There is only so much parents can do. The days of "lock up your daughters" is long gone. All you can do is teach them some basic values and launch them into the world and let them get on with it. The more you repress them, the more they will rebel.
Your conversationalist views only shows your fear of a universal evolution of mentalities, time are changing & the definition for moral & dignity go way beyond your point of view.
Lack or morality and turning our back to God bring disasters.
Malta's 'destruction' is from within and is not coming from any outside threat, or outsiders. Thanks to the failure of secularism.
It boils down to money and social benefits.
No more studying for exams
points for govt housing
children's allowance
almost guaranteed to get their child to be accepted in a church school
entitlement to free medicines (by which the entire family and friends benefit)
they also get the government to pay for the legal unknown father certificate
No income tax
......and get pregnant again, and again poor girl! I know of a case of having the fourth child from a fourth unknown father!!!!!
What incentive is there to be a good law abiding citizen in this country?
It's society evolving. Why is this Angela Abela concerned? What's wrong as long as people take care of their children?
Stop maintenance to single women - there is a father, and like everyone else they need to go and work!!! The government should do like the UK and clamp down on the abuse with many women pretending to be single when they are in a relationship.
What's wrong with people using the internet to date as long as they're not under age?
These so called experts should stop being so patronising.
Agree with you.The father shares the responsibility and no unknown father accepted. If there are any questions then DNA tests must be forced and those responsible pay for them. It is totally unfair and absurd that they enjoy themselves and the taxpayers pay for their enjoyment.
A 'family' consisting of a happy couple living together who have their own kids, is also a family you know. And in some cases, a happier family than a married couple who opt to stay together 'minhabba n nies' and end up quarrelling on a daily basis - or seek fulfilment outside marriage! Open your eyes, this is reality!
The choice on who should have the opportunity to continue working/progressing in their career after the birth of a child should be left to the couple.
Measures particularly targeting the mother to encourage her to stay at home should be avoided - they make no sense in a modern society where equal opportunities between genders should be the norm.
There should also be more emphasis on the role (& duties) the father can play in his children's upbringing. Given our mediterranean (macho) mentality, education is essential.