The National Commission for the Promotion of Equality yesterday launched a study that helps build a picture of the challenges faced by women in the labour market.

Over half of women are illegally asked questions about their personal plans for the future during job interviews and a third are even asked whether they plan to have children, a study shows.

Out of the 600 working women interviewed, 51 per cent had children. Some 34 per cent of women said once they became mothers what they looked for in a job changed, with a large number attaching more importance to working hours and flexitime.

These figures emerged in a study entitled Unlocking the Female Potential, released yesterday by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality.

The report, sponsored by the European Social Fund, contains a gold mine of data compiled during four projects that looked into different aspects of women in the working world. These included: The Situation of Male and Female Entrepreneurs and Vulnerable Workers in Malta, the Relevance of Economic Independence to the Maltese Female, Analysing Inactivity from a Gender Perspective and Gozitan Women in Employment.

The aim of the multi-tiered research, carried out by Marika Fsadni together with other experts and consultants, was to gain a clear understanding of the situation and pass on results to policymakers.

The report highlights policy recommendations that include the need to support employees to better balance their work and family life after 53 per cent of women who do not work said the reason was because they had to look after children.

It also recommends increasing awareness about sexual harassment laws. Seven out of 10 working women claimed their employer did not have an equal opportunity policy at work. One in every 10 women experienced some form of sexual harassment at work but half did not report the abuse or avoided the perpetrator. Only one in three of those harassed said they confronted their abuser.

Employed & unemployed

• 31 per cent of working women never received a promotion.

• 88 per cent of unemployed women are actively looking for a job.

• 75 per cent have been inactive for more than 10 years.

• Respondents working in managerial grades are mostly employed in education followed by health and social care.

• Female managers earn a gross salary of between €15,000 and €20,000 yearly.

• 63 per cent of women feel economically independent mainly due to their job.

• Lack of independence is due to dependence on their partner and not coping with bills.

• 45 per cent of women work to cope financially, while 13 per cent for their personal well-being.

• 53 per cent of women who do not work said it was to raise children.

• 44 per cent of women feel having children hinders women from finding a job.

• 88 per cent feel work is something positive.

• 68 per cent of women are not aware of government incentives to help them work.

Women in Gozo

• 77 per cent work in Gozo and the rest travel to Malta.

• 41 per cent are employed in the public sector.

• 72 per cent work full-time, compared to 65 per cent of Maltese.

• 45 per cent earn under €10,000 compared to 48 per cent for Maltese.

• 1.8 per cent earn more than their husband while the figure stands at 5.6 for Maltese.

• Most women work out of necessity and to be financially independent.

• 15 per cent see their work as a career rather than a job.

Children

• One of seven mothers had to change job to a less demanding one.

• Childcare is carried out by grandparents (53 per cent) followed by sharing responsibilities between parents (20 per cent).

• Most women who use paid childcare are in managerial roles.

• 60 per cent agree that having to leave work to pick up their child is an obstacle to their career.

• 87 per cent claimed they were never discriminated against due to their gender or motherhood.

• Most household duties are carried out by the working women followed by grandparents then husbands or partners.

Male & female entrepreneurs

• 82 per cent of 600 entrepreneurs interviewed were men.

• 44 per cent had children, 67 or which were women.

• 41 per cent feel there are differences in the ways men and women manage their business.

• Men are perceived as more risk taking and women more cautious.

• 51 per cent of men and women feel there are lines of business that are not accessible to women such as construction and transport.

• 30 per cent said their greatest challenge was securing financing.

• 87 per cent did not use a government service or support scheme to set up business mostly due to lack of awareness.

Vulnerable workers

• 33 per cent of 600 vulnerable workers (do not have proper working conditions) interviewed experienced job insecurity.

• 30 per cent of vulnerable employees, including men and women, were not formally registered with their employers.

• 12 per cent were employed on a definite contract, and five per cent held a self-employed state imposed by their employer.

• 15 per were paid below minimum wage.

• 37 per cent do not pay National Insurance and 18 per cent do not get the government bonus.

• 36 per cent of workers who have to wear a uniform have to pay for it themselves.

• 94 per cent feel the government needs to invest in more awareness about workers’ rights.