Government lambasted for maternity leave stand

The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations expressed its disappointment over the “hurried declaration” by the government to vote against the extension of the maternity leave period together with the Netherlands and the UK.

It said in a statement this was a blow to Maltese families and especially to mothers who expect better treatment from the government.

Mothers in Malta are currently offered 14 weeks maternity leave (the minimum allowed by the EU Maternity Leave Directive) which, unlike other member states, is fully paid by the employers.

It said schemes in other EU countries included funding of maternity leave provisions through the national insurance fund, national public health funds, specific funds for maternity leave and unemployment funds.

Work-life balance was not only about mothers, but about families and society as a whole, the confederation said.

It questioned the sustainability of having 54 per cent of the population in Malta supporting the remaining 46 per cent through financially remunerated productive work.

“The need for increasing the participation of women in the labour market is undisputable, as is the need for ensuring that our birth rate does not continue to decline,” the confederation said.