Alternattiva Demokratika is proposing that maternity leave should be extended from 14 to 26 weeks and financed by the government at e116 per week, said party leader Harry Vassallo yesterday.

Speaking during a walkabout near the Sliema Tower accompanied by family and friends, Dr Vassallo outlined the AD proposals for solving women’s dilemma between family and a career.

Dr Vassallo said Malta had the shortest maternity leave in the whole of Europe, including Russia, he added.

AD, said Dr Vassallo, has worked out that this measure would not be a burden on the country’s coffers, given the country’s birth rate. Besides, he added, the parents’ employment would not be prejudiced as the weekly e116 per week would be paid by the government.

He said the party has been putting forth similar proposals for ages, which would be adopted by the government after 10 years. Dr Vassallo encouraged political parties to follow suit, adding that AD in a coalition government would further encourage fresher policies in order to guarantee a better quality of life for the Maltese.

Dr Vassallo criticised the PN and MLP for making “monumental promises” which they cannot fulfil. AD would guarantee, in a coalition government, that important measures would be addressed first. He further criticised the two parties for squabbling about overtime while failing to understand that the need to work overtime underpins the Maltese people’s need to work in order to make ends meet. We should focus on making families enjoy the fruits of their labour, he said, adding that AD was also keen on improving the quality of life of the families and their toddlers by extending maternity leave to 26 weeks.

Asked about AD’s other family-friendly proposals, Dr Vassallo said the party was proposing a continuous presence of police officers at police stations as well as regular patrols. He also insisted that the law should further protect people who have been intimidated through vexatious actions, be it for political reasons or otherwise.