The day men start lobbying for more time to spend with their children would mark a big step forward in terms of gender equality, according to a women’s organisation.
“I dream of the day when men form a group that lobbies for more parental leave... that would show men and women are equal when it comes to sharing family responsibilities,” said Anna Borg, from the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.
Family responsibilities are still perceived as being the woman’s role and this is creating another hurdle for women to return to work as they try to juggle their time between home and the office.
Last December, the majority of EU Social Affairs Ministers, including Malta’s, opposed a proposal to extend parental leave. Had the proposal been adopted, maternity leave in Malta would have increased by six weeks from 14 while fathers would have become entitled to two weeks of fully paid paternity leave as opposed to just two days.
Renee Laiviera, who chairs the confederation, said Malta had not achieved gender equality although it had come a long way from those days, which lasted until 1981, when women working in the public sector were forced to give up their job once they got married.
“Malta needs women’s day because we do not have equality... It allows us to highlight issues hindering women so we can move forward,” she said.
The confederation was committed to bring such issues to light and these include women’s public and political participation, their poor presence in the labour market and domestic violence.
Dr Laiviera said Malta lacked a holistic approach to ensure equality was maintained, especially at the workplace. Women needed support structures, such as child-minding facilities, to ensure they could return to work after having a baby. This would also encourage them to pursue their careers and take on directorship roles.
A recent EU study showed Malta ranked last when it came to the presence of women on company boards. The EU was considering the introduction of compulsory gender quotas for the composition of boards.
“There are small things that can be done in Malta but are not happening... The time a school opens can make or break a woman’s chances to work. We need more before and after school childminding facilities,” Ms Borg said.
Gender pay gaps remained a reality and stood at 23 per cent in Malta, Ms Laiviera pointed out.
Funding support structures was an investment in society as women would work, pay taxes and national insurance. It would also address the dropping birth rate.
Ms Borg pointed out the government was investing in educating women. Sixty per cent of University students were female. However, such investment was not being maximised as many stopped working, or slowed down, after they had children. Only 23 per cent of women returned to work after six months of having a baby.