Labour leader Alfred Sant yesterday spoke in favour of quotas to ensure women are appointed to top positions but said these should be removed once equality has been reached in practice.

Speaking during a seminar the Labour Party organised on the occasion of Woman's Day, which coincides with the election on Saturday, Dr Sant said a Labour government would aim for 30 per cent of public appointments and 20 per cent of diplomatic representatives to be women.

Although the present government was originally against quotas, it now seemed to have softened its position and he would like to see a consensus on this so that nationwide decisions would also reflect women's lifestyle.

He said his party was committed, once in government, to increase the participation of women in the labour market and in the social sphere. Malta was the European country with the lowest participation of women in employment.

Labour's plan for a new beginning recognised the fact that women were also mothers and their employment should reflect this perspective. The party had proposals regarding childcare centres and child carers.

On social proposals, Dr Sant said there were many issues in Labour's plan which dealt with the concerns brought up during the seminar including domestic violence, poverty and the elderly.

Labour would have zero tolerance to domestic violence, an issue which was not being tackled.

The same could be said for sexual harassment. Dr Sant said his government between 1996 and 1998 had had plans in this regard but did not have time to implement them. It would do so now if the people gave the party its mandate.