The Government is committed to have more women in decision-making roles but Brussels should not impose such a policy, the Prime Minister said yesterday.

Lawrence Gonzi referred to the European Commission’s drive to get more women in company boards by imposing EU-wide quotas.

While speaking to workers during a visit to Actavis, a pharmaceutical company, Dr Gonzi noted the good number of women managers at the company.

He said the Government had appointed more women to decision-making positions in the public service, including the judiciary, but felt this should not be imposed on the private sector. Actavis had taken the proposal on board without imposition, he said.

The Bulebel company, which employs 603 workers, is expanding its warehouse space by building a €13 million structure over 5,000 square metres.

Actavis is also involved in an international merger with the Watson group, which has another company (Arrow) at Ħal Far. Actavis general manager Patrick Cachia said the merger should be complete by the end of the year but the details of the transition were still being worked out.

The merger, which has caused uncertainty among workers, featured in one of the questions put to Dr Gonzi by a worker on the Government’s plans to make Malta attractive enough for foreign companies to choose the country as an investment location. He said such decisions were often based on the availability of an adequately-trained workforce and the tax advantages offered.

“This is why we have continued to invest in the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology and the University and why we continue to offer tax incentives to companies we consider to be strategic,” he said.

An employee complained about the tax that had to be paid on overtime and Dr Gonzi explained how he had to find the middle road between ensuring adequate income for the Government and leaving enough money in people’s pockets.

He referred to the last election promise to cut the top income tax rate but said that the recession had changed priorities.