Seven out of 10 working women claim that their employer does not have an equal opportunity policy at work to avoid discrimination and harassment, a study has shown.
One in every 10 women experienced some form of sexual harassment at work but half did not report the abuse or avoided the perpetrator. Only one in three of those harassed said they confronted their abuser.
These figures emerged in a study entitled Unlocking the Female Potential that was launched this morning.
The report, sponsored by the EU, gathers results of four projects that aim to provide a picture of the situation of women in Malta. The report will be handed over to policy makers.
Results showed that 63 per cent of working women felt economically independent due to their job. 45 per cent said they worked because they felt the financial need, 13 per cent work for their personal well being and 10 per cent said they were the sole breadwinners.
53 per cent of women who did not work said this was because they had to look after children. 44 per cent felt that having children hinder women from working while 12 per cent attributed this to the lack of support structures.
A third of vulnerable workers (both men and women), who are defined as not being given basic working conditions, are not formally registered with their employer.
Almost 70 per cent of 600 vulnerable workers interviewed – that worked in tourism, cleaning and language schools – were paid on an hourly rate, 15 per cent were paid below minimum wage, 19 per cent were not paid government bonuses, 40 per cent were not allowed break time.
55 per cent said they had no trade union representation at work. The majority of workers, 94 per cent, felt government should invest in more awareness of workers' rights,
The report, commissioned by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality, is a gold mine of information. It shows that out of every 10 women working only three, or 31 per cent, received a job promotion while 69 per cent never did.
More than half the women were illegally asked about their plans to have children during job interviews. 78 per cent of Gozitan women work in Gozo.