Malta has questioned the timing of a European Commission proposal to extend the minimum full-paid maternity leave entitlement by four weeks to 18 weeks, saying it could have negative effects on the economy.
If the proposal goes through, Malta would have to grant would-be mothers a further four weeks over and above the 14 granted through local employment laws, increasing the financial burden on the State and employers.
Malta's position on the Commission's proposal was officially relayed by Social Policy Minister John Dalli last week in Brussels during a closed-doors meeting of EU employment ministers.
EU Council sources told The Sunday Times that although Malta expressed itself in favour of providing more support to women to strike a balance between work and family life, Mr Dalli warned that the proposal might have negative repercussions, particularly on small and medium-sized enterprises.
Mr Dalli also questioned the timing of this proposal, particularly as Europe was trying to maximise competitiveness in an effort to protect jobs in the current economic crisis.
"We do not feel it is opportune to take certain measures, including the extension of maternity leave with immediate effect," Mr Dalli told his counterparts.
He warned that employers could adopt a hostile attitude to these measures. Governments, he said, must be on their guard to ensure that what appeared to be a move to improve women's employment conditions would not prove to be counterproductive, particularly among women of child-bearing age.
Mr Dalli also suggested that should there be any extension in maternity leave, it should be introduced gradually over a number of years to minimise the impact. According to Council sources, Malta was not alone in expressing reservations on this proposal.
"Many member states are particularly concerned over the financial burden imposed by this new proposal and no consensus has been reached on the way forward. Much more discussion is needed before the EU can take a final decision," the sources said.
The UK has already declared itself against the proposal in line with the EU business lobby.
According to the new proposed directive, women will be on full pay for 18 weeks. However, member states will have the opportunity to set a ceiling on sick pay levels.
In addition, women will have more flexibility over when to take the non-compulsory portion of their leave (before or after childbirth) and would therefore no longer be obliged to take a specific portion before childbirth, as is currently the case in some member states.
In Malta, women have to take a minimum of four weeks before and six after giving birth.
The proposal also ensures stronger protection against dismissal and a right to return to the same job or an equivalent one after maternity leave. Women will have the right to ask the employer for flexible working patterns after the end of maternity leave.
With regards to self employed women, the proposal suggests they should have the equivalent of access to maternity leave like employees, but on a voluntary basis.
This proposal will have to obtain the backing of a qualified majority of EU member states and the European Parliament to come into effect.