The proposed European Commission roadmap on work-life balance should facilitate the link between care-giving and paid work, National Commission for the Promotion of Equality commissioner Renee Laiviera said this morning, as she welcomed the long-awaited proposals.

She was addressing the NCPE conference held to mark International Women’s Day which is being celebrated on Tuesday.

“The Commission’s plan should also provide further assistance to employers in adopting more family-friendly measures and flexible working arrangements at the workplace,” Ms Laiviera said, addressing the conference held at Dar Qalb ta’ Ġesù at Santa Venera.

The commissioner added that the NCPE’s transition into a Human Rights and Equality Commission meant the issues involving the restructuring and strengthening needed to be addressed.

“NCPE has been preparing itself with research and knowledge on how best to address this challenge,” Ms Laiviera said.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties Joseph Camilleri, who spoke on behalf of Minister Helena Dalli, said finding a balance between the work and private responsibilities was a challenge for all workers.

The government, he said, was encouraging supportive measures “to make it easier for parents and care-givers to strike a better balance”.