The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) has welcomed the launch of the Maternity Leave Fund out of which employers will be refunded for payment of paid maternity leave.

The MCWO said that this measure was long overdue and would eliminate the main disincentive for employers to employ women of child bearing age due to the cost of maternity leave.

Employers pay for 14 weeks of maternity leave at 100 per cent of the employee’s salary. By means of the Fund all employers in the private sector will now contribute to the Fund, independently of whether their employees are men or women, and get reimbursed for payment of maternity leave.

"This initiative is a milestone for Malta and contributes to further enhance women’s employability and gender equality at the workplace and in society," Lorraine Spiteri, chairperson of the confederation said. 

 

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