The Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations (MCWO) presented a copy of the Care Services Manifesto to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi on occasion of Women’s Day on Wednesday.

Anna Borg from the MCWO explained that the confederation is made up of various organisations that focus on women and gender equality issues and aims to represent the needs and concerns of women from all walks of life.

The delegation was made up of Anna Ferris from the Malta Association of Women in Business (MAWB), Dr Charmaine Grech from the General Workers’ Union (GWU), Lorraine Spiteri from the Women’s Study Group, Lydia Sciberras from the Attard Ladies Culture Club and Therese Comodini Cachia, legal advisor to MCWO.

Mrs Borg explained that the manifesto was adopted by representatives of over 4,000 European women’s associations and participants at a seminar in Prague in October 2006.

The seminar was organised by the European Women’s Lobby and was titled “Who Cares: care issues in Europe from a gender perspective”.

The manifesto states that the lack of affordable and high-quality care services in the EU is a major obstacle to “women’s full participation in all aspects of economic, social, cultural and political life.”

It went on to explain that care policies and the provision of care services are therefore conditions for achievement of equality between women and men.

Mrs Borg told the Prime Minister that fathers need to have a more active role in their children’s upbringing.

She suggested introducing quotas in parental leave so that both parents will be obliged to take it.

“If both fathers and mothers are given quota of parental leave that is non-transferable, they will be obliged to take it or else it will be lost,” explained Mrs Borg.

Dr Gonzi listened carefully to the suggestion and said it was very interesting.

“It is a debatable and very interesting suggestion. It provides a responsible motivation for the father to make use of his parental leave,” he said.

Mrs Borg also said that the unions and employers need to shoulder their responsibility and facilitate the introduction of these child-friendly measures.

Dr Gonzi spoke about the European dimension of the manifesto and said that introducing these childcare facilities will help women make an unbiased decision.

He pointed out that Malta has a very strong social network that can be improved further.

“We must make use of the services and structures that are already present,” said Dr Gonzi.

“For example there are schools that can be used in the afternoons.”

The Prime Minister said that the government launched the pre-budget consultation period earlier this year and is aiming to finalise and publish the document by the end of June.

He strongly urged the delegation to send in suggestions and ideas as soon as possible.

“Do not leave it till very late to send in your suggestions.

“I won’t promise you that we will implement each and every one but I do promise you that your suggestions will be high on the government’s priority list,” said Dr Gonzi.

He spoke about the importance of finding a balance between introducing family-friendly measures that do not hinder the country’s economic development.

“It is very difficult to balance the needs of the employer and the needs of the employee,” said Dr Gonzi.

However, he added, dialogue between all the stakeholders is the key to solving these issues.