The Malta Employers' Association (MEA) believes a European Commission proposal to extend maternity leave could actually work against women, since fewer companies would be willing to employ them.
MEA director general Joe Farrugia said this was not the right time to extend maternity leave since most of the industrialised world was in recession. He added that women already benefitted from several measures, including reduced working hours, career breaks and flexitime arrangements.
The Commission has proposed that member states enact legislation extending by four weeks the minimum full-paid maternity leave to 18 weeks. It has also recommended that the same maternity benefits apply to self-employed women who are currently not eligible.
Social Policy Minister John Dalli had questioned the timing of the proposal at a meeting in Brussels, saying it would have negative repercussions on the economy.
Backing the Social Policy Minister's stand, Mr Farrugia said, "There are various ways one can assist without applying the measures across the board. Such a decision could cripple the competitiveness of enterprises. They should be treated on a case-by-case basis."
The Commission said the proposed rules would guarantee that women in the 27 EU countries were not sacked during or immediately after maternity leave.
Maternity entitlements vary across the EU, from 15 weeks in Belgium to 18 months in Sweden. A dozen nations offer leave periods of less than 18 weeks, including Malta.
According to the social security department, the 14 weeks of leave in Malta start eight weeks before birth and extend to six weeks after the birth of the child.
During this time, women may choose to claim benefits either from the employer or from the government.
The government pays €67.56 per week while the employer has to pay the full salary.
But, if at the end of the 14 weeks the woman decides not to return to work, she is obliged to reimburse the employer in full. The government does not request reimbursement.
Helen Raine, a British national working in Malta, told The Sunday Times that maternity leave provisions forced her to choose between a career and her baby.
Ms Raine also dismissed the idea that extended maternity leave would work against women. "Malta has a relatively small skilled workforce and there is demand for trained and competent employees... I have no doubt that most employers will continue to recognise a good quality female employee as an asset they would not want to lose," she said.
Employers need to take into consideration the waste of training women, educating them and then effectively excluding those who want to return to work due to family-unfriendly legislation, Ms Raine added.
The problem is compounded by the fact that paternity leave in Malta is a mere two days. "These regulations are really from the Dark Ages where the women stay at home with the baby and the father is the breadwinner with a negligible role in childcare." National Council for the Promotion of Equality executive director Sina Bugeja said the extension of the maternity leave by another four weeks is in itself a positive approach to further enhance the work and life balance.
"But, considering the current financial and economic situation, such a proposal merits deeper and wider discussion," she said.