It's a man's world...

Malta ranks among the highest best places to live in but, unfortunately, according to the United Nations Committee on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, Malta is no different to the rest of the world where female participation in the labour market is still "weak".

In January 2007, the Leader of the Opposition argued that gender imbalance against women can only be addressed with precise political intervention and the use of quotas.

He explained that it was important to push the idea of quotas in the political, economic and social sector and also at a parliamentary level without the need for any major constitutional changes: "The Labour plan for gender equality includes the use of quotas as a temporary measure to help women become decision-makers".

I beg to differ most emphatically. Women do not need any bigoted hand-outs. I firmly believe that the "positive discrimination" proposal is an insult to women's intelligence. Apart from a good education and equal opportunities, women also need their family's unconditional support at home in order to leave their "coop".

Throughout the centuries the labour force was a man's exclusive playpen and until all males decide that it's not demeaning and unpleasant to "work" at home, most females just cannot abandon their "chicks".

Sadly, under previous Labour governments, gender equality and our education system remained in the doldrums. MCAST was shut down and university entry was barred to most males let alone females.

But things are looking brighter. Today, 58 per cent of the University student population and 60 per cent of students at post-secondary education are females - of over 22,000 post-secondary students.

The Act for Equality between Women and Men and the Domestic Violence Act, both enacted not so long ago, provide to protect and defend women against gender discrimination.

To minimise gender discrimination and encourage women to participate more fully in the workforce, this Administration has introduced a plethora of incentives: Reduced hours; flexi-time; one year unpaid leave for every child for employees in the public service; three years unpaid leave taken once as a career break (public service); 14 weeks maternity leave; parental leave, amendments to the Employment Relations Act introducing family-friendly measures; a one-year tax holiday for women who return to work after five years; national insurance contributions at pro rata to a maximum of 10 per cent; pension credits - two years for every child and four years in case of a disabled child; a pension, tax rebates and social benefits for women employed in the family business; standards for child care centres; childcare service provided by the employer is no longer considered a fringe benefit therefore not taxable; financial grants to existing child care centres to upgrade according to EU standards; tax rebates for parents sending their children to private schools, child care centres and sports nurseries... €3.49 (Lm1.50) compensation to cover any increase in the cost of living this year; children's allowance to all children, a national campaign for "free" breast screening scheme etc.

The Cambridge University report found that "women are working longer hours because they are still shouldering the bulk of household duties like cleaning and childcare... This was inevitably leading to a vicious circle in which women worked more part-time hours, preventing them from furthering their careers" (The Times, December 7).

Juggling between their job and their motherhood responsibilities, thousands of Maltese women are shouldering more than they can cope with. Others, "on duty" at home, are still shying away from facing such an ordeal. Apparently only one per cent of the fathers take parental leave, probably to celebrate Father's Day!

"Once again we have shown to be leaders among the very best. This nomination (ICF) as one of the top 21 intelligent communities in the world is a well-deserved label for Malta and the Maltese..." (Austin Gatt, October 27).

Females are as intelligent and/or as incompetent as their male counterparts. We certainly do not need to introduce any "positive discrimination" measures and run the risk of introducing the wrong individuals into the workforce.

On a lighter note, perhaps the only positive discrimination the Leader of the Opposition should propose is to have a quota of men to stay at home and look after the family, if not full-time at least part-time!