The economic recession has brought about a curious trend where, despite the narrowing gender pay gap, people at risk-of-poverty are undergoing a worsening work-life balance, according to MEP Alfred Sant.

Speaking this morning in an exchange of views with business leaders and MEPs on work-life balance and equality organised by the European Parliament Information Office and the European Commission Representation in Malta, Dr Sant admitted he felt uncomfortable in such discussions because people ended up speaking only of the middle-class.

It was important to look at how the economic crisis affected people in the working classes, especially people working precariously, those at risk of poverty or the unemployed.

“In the past, women were deemed as being the buffers in that they would be the first to be sacked. Now the buffer has swung: both genders are on the receiving end.

“The gender pay gap has decreased but so has disposable income. This is reflected in Malta as well.”

MEP Roberta Metsola also stressed the importance of looking at people with low levels of education who found it hard to emerge from the social benefit rut.

The vast majority of young working parents were in a situation where the option of teleworking or the luxury of going on holiday were not possible to them.

A number of vulnerable people were working but not declaring their source of income in order to keep receiving benefits and to make ends meet.