Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli urged MEPs to promote Malta’s position in favour of women making up 40 per cent of non-executive directors in major companies.
Under a draft directive voted by the European Parliament in November companies listed on stock exchanges in the EU would be required to implement the measure. In Malta, only 10 companies would be affected.
Last September, MEP Marlene Mizzi said she was ambivalent about the issue, shying away from artificial pushes and saying that Maltese women could still make it without such legislative measures.
Dr Dalli was addressing a seminar organised by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) on the role of women in society on the occasion of International Women’s Day (marked on Saturday).
The minister flagged the importance of seriously addressing domestic violence against women if one was to aim towards equality.
She said the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence was first signed by the previous administration.
The next step is its ratification. The first reading of the ratification Bill will be presented to Parliament tomorrow, Dr Dalli said.
She urged the NCPE to complete the directory of Maltese and Gozitan professional women.
According to tracer studies, Dr Dalli continued, many female graduates often went off the professional radar after having children and remained “lost”.
The government has been introducing a number of measures to encourage a higher number of females in the workforce, such as changing policies to allow government employees better access to reduced hours or teleworking.
The government was also proposing a concession for parents to take their sick leave to attend to their children when they were unwell. Next month sees the introduction of free childcare.
Dr Dalli said the government will also be extending educational programmes to after-school hours and even before, such as breakfast clubs.
“We hope that the government will serve as a model employer and that private companies will follow suit.
“Employers must realise that it’s in their interest – if an employee has the peace of mind that his responsibilities are being well taken care of, his performance will improve and his output would be better.”
Dr Dalli pointed out that the issue also centred on the question of culture and bringing up children. Many of the “new” fathers were contributing more in raising their children but were still not taking on their share of completing household chores.
“Education must first start at home but also continues at school, starting from kindergarten. We have to drum it into children’s minds the values of inclusivity, diversity and acceptance.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re male, female or a homosexual – you’re appreciated according to your skills, your mind and your behaviour.”