Men who stay home to take care of their elderly parents now have the opportunity to apply for social benefits which were previously only available to women, Labour spokesperson for Social Solidarity Marie Louise Coleiro Preca said yesterday.

In a statement, Mrs Coleiro Preca said that following months of pressure on the government by the Labour Party, social benefits for people taking care of their parents are also now available to men.

She explained that men who took care of their parents were discriminated against because they were not allowed to apply for social benefits, unlike their female counterparts.

However, added Ms Coleiro Preca, the Social Security Department has issued instructions allowing men to apply for this benefit.

She pointed out that the Labour Party appealed to the European Parliament, through Labour MEP Louis Grech, to arrange the discrepancy in the Maltese social security system.

However, Mrs Coleiro Preca urged the Department of Social Security to inform the public about the recent amendments to the system so that men who are eligible to apply will do so accordingly.