Couples’ miscarriage leave proposals do not go far enough - ADPD
Proposals the 'basic minimum', Malta's green party says
Recent government proposals to provide seven days of miscarriage leave to women who miscarry within the first 22 weeks of pregnancy, along with their partner, do not go far enough, Malta’s green party has said.
In a statement, ADPD chairperson Sandra Gauci called the proposals the “basic minimum” while calling the financial reimbursement of up to around €600 “too little”.
“The bill is progress, but the payment needs to be much better. Having to worry about finances during such a tragedy is a burden on mental health”, Gauci said.
Announcing the proposals Friday, the government said each partner would receive the equivalent of the median wage – approximately €600 – for the leave, which would be covered by the state and be separate from sick leave and other entitlements.
Under the proposals, couples would also have access to psychological support.
Gauci said the proposed seven days of leave – which she said had been reduced from 10 days in an earlier draft of the proposals – “raises doubts about the extent to which consultation with those who understand women’s health was effective”.
“We hope that the necessary revisions will be made”, she said, adding the inclusion of psychological support for couples affected by miscarriages was a “positive proposal”.
Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul presented the proposals earlier this week following four months of public consultation.
The UĦM Voice of the Workers union has criticised the government for not including parents who lose a child after birth in these proposals, saying this had been part of the discussions with stakeholders but failed to make it into the proposed bill.
It expressed its "disappointment" Friday that the number of leave days had been reduced to seven after the government had indicated during the consultation phase that parents would be granted 10 days off.