The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has expressed concern over remarks attributed to Police Commissioner John Rizzo that, despite the importance of woman in the Force, they also posed a challenge to the administration when they asked for maternity leave, reduced hours and lighter duties”.

The Police Force is currently made up of 1920 officers of whom almost a fifth are women.

"The MCWO would like to point out that these statements denigrate women’s important roles in society both as workers and as mothers. Such declarations discourage women from remaining in the workplace as they are made to feel that they are a burden to the administration and to their colleagues. These remarks certainly do nothing to motivate women neither do they make them feel of any value at work. This attitude contrasts with the many efforts women make in order to meet family and work responsibilities," the confederation said.

"Commissioner Rizzo’s declarations are definitely not in line with government policy to increase women in the labour market. Malta has the lowest participation rate of women in the labour market (38%) among the 27 EU member states. The inactivity rate of women between the age of 25 and 54, in 2009 in the 27 EU member states, stood at 22.1%. The lowest inactivity rate of women in this age cohort was recorded in Slovenia at 12.1%. Malta, in line with developments or lack of them in this area of concern, was recorded as having the highest level of inactivity rate of women at 51.1%."

Whilst congratulating the Police Force for having attracted so many women into the Corps, the MCWO suggested that new and appropriate management skills be applied to bring it into line with the important work that women officers were doing in the Police Force as rightly pointed out by Commissioner Rizzo.