Temporary gender quotas could be a solution that paves the way for competent women to serve on boards, the majority of female electoral candidates agreed.
Fourteen of the 26 women vying for a parliamentary seat attended a conference organised yesterday by the National Council of Women, aimed at stimulating debate and giving greater visibility to the female candidates.
When asked whether gender quotas might help competent women occupy a seat on company boards, Nationalist Party candidate Caroline Galea described it as “a temporary necessary evil”.
Labour Party candidate Nikita Zammit Alamango agreed, adding she had first been elected to her party’s executive committee thanks to a quota, but was subsequently re-elected on her merit because she had been given the opportunity to prove herself.
Labour MP Helena Dalli stressed that meritocracy and female quotas should not be pitted against each other.
“Quotas should not give the impression that women have not been promoted on merit.”
PL candidate Lorna Vassallo fully agreed with the notion of female quotas, defining them as necessary since “women lack incumbency”.
According to PL candidate Deborah Schembri, quotas should not be in place for the benefit of women, but should serve to boost any underrepresented sector within society.
PN candidate Kristy Debono disagreed with the notion of quotas but admitted that the implementation of a quota introduced on a temporary basis might help enhance the chances of women gaining better representation.
An exercise carried out by The Times last April found that in the 19 companies on the Malta Stock Exchange, a mere three out of the 138 directors listed were women – the lowest average in the EU.
PN president Marthese Portelli felt the problem had cultural roots; a shift in mentality was needed for it to be resolved. She added that the growing pool of potential females willing to occupy positions higher up the hierarchy would help bring about the necessary change.
Another bone of contention was that of childcare centres and the need to bridge the gap between the time when school finishes and when parents finish work.
The Klabb 3-16 care service was lauded by the candidates, yet the need for a greater number of childcare centres close to parents’ places of work was identified.
Alternattiva Demokratika candidate Angele Deguara pointed out this government childcare club did not cater for disabled children, while Dr Schembri said certain localities in Malta had different needs.
“Psychologists and social workers should cater for the specific needs of certain areas. Unfortunately, some children come from difficult family backgrounds and do not have responsible parents. The different needs of such areas in Malta need to be adequately addressed.”
The women touched on other controversial issues such as whether gay couples should adopt and if reduced hours affected women’s chances of being promoted.
The candidates and the NCW concluded by appealing to the media to give equal and balanced coverage to male and female candidates alike.