Women earn up to €12,000 less than their male counterparts and the business community is lobbying against the EU's proposals to extend maternity leave and introduce paternity leave, arguing this will cost the economy €12.3 million. What do students, waiting in the wings to start a career and a family, think of this? Kurt Bugeja Coster went on the University campus to find out.
Yasmin La Rosa, 20, studying law
If you have the same designation as a man, you are bound to earn the same wage. Instead of being entitled to that amount, women could take less leave but then work fewer hours for a while. Business will not be as affected while mothers can still bring up their children.
Fabio Imbroll, 23, studying law
There is still discrimination against females out there. We have a mentality that tries to encourage women to stay home, so raising their salary would encourage them to work. In today's world, where equality is important and female workers benefit the economy, there should not be a discrepancy between men's and women's wages. The family is important but so too are businesses, so every case should be considered individually.
Justine Cortis, 20, studying banking, finance and insurance
It is discriminatory and unfair because we study just as they do and attend the same courses, so I cannot see why the wages should vary. I think a compromise should be sought between leave and the economy but it should also depend on each case.
Diandra Fenech, 20, studying banking, finance and insurance
I do not think this is the case with most jobs. As far as I know, men and women occupying the same posts earn the same. But if this is the case, I do not think it is fair because females are just as capable. With regard to leave, I think things should be treated on a case-by-case basis.
Stephanie Said, 21, studying archaeology and history of art
"This is the usual male/female bias. Females were looked at in a negative light while males were dominant. However, things are changing and are hopefully improving, even though the study (by the Malta Business Bureau on the economic impact of the EU proposals) does not make things any better. Maternity leave should be extended because mothers do more than just bring up their children; they work and earn money too. Single parents have that extra weight on their shoulders.
Miriam Zammit, 21, studying philosophy
It is wrong and discriminatory because, regardless of whether you are a woman, you still have the mental capacity to work as well as a man, so they should be paid the same. I suggest that, instead of increasing maternity leave, children remain at school for longer hours so you would not have to work part-time to collect your kids. People, especially single mothers, are working much less and do not have enough money to care for their children.
Kyle Calleja, 19, studying architecture
People should be paid according to the quality of work, regardless of gender. However, there are jobs which men can do better and there are others women are more efficient at. Businessmen are right about leave because they have to make a profit but, at the end of the day, the family is the basis of everything. And problems in the family will ultimately affect work and workers' efficiency, so it will still affect businessmen. So there should be a balance.
Charlene Cuschieri, 20, studying teaching
I am studying to become a teacher and, as far as I know, they all have the same salary, men and women. A compromise should be found in relation to leave because businesses want to make a profit while a family includes a mother and father. Without them present when the children are young it will not work out well.