Case for longer parental leave

Increased parental leave will mean a healthier economy, which is why the government should consider extending maternity leave even though the proposal was rejected at EU level, according to a women’s organisation.

Increasing maternity leave in Malta by six weeks, for a total of 20, would help mothers return to work and encourage women to have children. This would mean a stronger economy and solve the dropping birth rate, the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations said.

All EU member states, except Belgium and Portugal, last week opposed plans by the European Commission to legislate for a minimum 20-week maternity leave entitlement and the introduction of two weeks paternity leave. Malta opposed the plans because of the heavy financial burden involved and unsuitability of the timing, considering the economic climate in Europe.

The confederation expressed its disappointment noting that the extension of maternity leave was an investment in the future.

Figures showed that the number of births in Malta was dropping with the fertility rate for Maltese women decreasing from 1.48 in 2003 to 1.44 in 2009. The average EU fertility rate rose to 1.6 per woman in 2009 from 1.47 in 2003.

Female participation in the labour market stood at only 40 per cent.

“Neither working women nor stay-at-home mothers are having children, the former because of lack of work-life balance, the latter because of lack of finances,” the confederation said.

Maltese mothers were not ready to return to the labour market after 14 weeks of maternity leave. A 2008 study showed that only 23 per cent of first-time mothers returned to employment after six months from giving birth.

Working women would yield more taxes, more national insurance contributions and more income from VAT would be poured into the economy, besides a higher productivity.

The confederation added that, apart from parental leave, the government should also ensure the necessary structures were in place to enable women to remain in the labour market.