The National Council of Women has welcomed the government’s “successful efforts” to reach an agreement with the social partners to extend paid maternity leave by four weeks over the course of two years.

The council said it was satisfied consensus had been reached, after the government discussed its proposals within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. This agreement, approved by the Employment Relationships Board, will be funded by the government with a fixed amount of €160 a week, the council noted.

The council described the extension, together with the recent legal notice regulating temping agencies that would help employersfind replacements, as “another important step”.