The debate on gender inequality is still quite visible in the local media in one way or another. In spite of existing legislation that prohibits gender discrimination, statistics demonstrate that women are still paid less than men, are under-represented politically and in the workforce, and as entrepreneurs.

The NCW’s calls for improvements in legislation relating to pregnant workers and the granting of maternity and parental leave to reconcile professional, private and family life need to be addressed more effectively, as highlighted in the European Commission message for World Women’s Day 2009 with the theme “Closing the Pay Gap”.

According to the WHO, children should be exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, which means that the now proposed minimum of 18 weeks maternity leave should be critically considered and extended to a minimum of 24 weeks

Take-up leave for fathers and other family members such as grandparents also need to be explored. Measures need to be practical and implemented and the NCW calls for the sharing of responsibilities of all stakeholders: mothers, fathers and social partners.

Recommendations for increasing the number of women in entrepreneurial activity also need to be considered. Men and women do not go into business for the same reasons. Moreover, women tend to start a business at about the age of 30, which is a difficult age for them as this is when couples often decide to start a family. In the field of self-employed women and “assisting spouses”, measures providing social protection equivalent to their self-employed partners are also urgently needed.

The NCW believes that the private sector needs to be more informed about the advantages of job-sharing, teleworking, flexibility of take-up leave and other new forms of work organisation, which can provide both parents with opportunities to meet their work and home commitments. Legislation on the probation period of pregnant mothers needs to be harmonised with EU legislation, in particular with regard to social protection.

Investing in women means investing in over 50 per cent of the population. National medium to long-term policies to attract foreign investment should be coupled with investing in our human resources: women – so far, undervalued and under-represented.

Grace Attard

President

National Council of Women