Hand on heart, as a mother, as a parent, as a family, we cannot thank enough the Prime Minister and the government in making everyone count. The effort to strengthen the balance between work and family life, by strengthening the rights of workers in urgent cases related to the family is a case in point.  An increase in Urgent Family Leave from 15 hours to four days is a positive step for workers to have more peace of mind when facing family emergency situations.

The government is giving central importance to the family in its policy. This initiative highlights how the government is trying to make the economy work in the interest of the people, with a social policy that places the family at the centre of Maltese society.

The introduction of additional urgent leave for workers to care for or assist their family members-including children, parents, and even siblings, regardless of whether they live in the same household or not-provides families with greater peace of mind. This entitlement also extends to workers who are legal guardians of minors.

Waking up to a sick child or a parent who requires urgent assistance, even if not medical, is not a fable but a reality that anybody can encounter.  Government has also approved that this measure will also apply to those who work part-time on a pro-rata basis.

The aim is to improve the balance between work and personal life, without creating extra problems in employment. Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul who spearheaded the initiative has reiterated that Government will continue to design a policy in favour of families, to improve the quality of life in Malta and Gozo and that is what is being implemented.

Recently I met a mother who happens to be a teacher and she explained to me the importance of such measures which gives the whole family a chance to deal with important issues that can occur within the family from time to time. "Such initiatives give us peace of mind," she said. There are those who care for their parents as much as there are others who have children and who need to put their minds at rest that the urgent family leave has now been taken to the next level.

The Labour Party's 2022 manifesto had initially committed to doubling urgent family leave to 30 hours. However, following discussions with all social partners at the Employment Relations Board, the need to increase emergency leave hours was recognised, along with the challenges employers face in implementing this measure. As a result, this leave will be split equally, with 16 hours deducted from annual leave and 16 hours from sick leave.

Employers can request proof to prevent misuse of the system. Whilst a step in the positive direction Junior Minister Andy Ellul has admitted more work is needed to achieve better work-life balance.

I can assure you that many are talking about this positive initiative, however, others, have decided to stay put, in silence, regarding this initiative. This gives me more courage to work harder in such sectors because sometimes silence means that initiatives are taken for granted.

The government's latest initiative aligns with the Labour government's free childcare scheme, which has significantly expanded childcare services over the past decade. Since its introduction in 2014, the number of childcare centres has nearly tripled, growing from 69 in 2014 to 192 in 2024. Jobsplus CEO Celia Falzon highlighted this growth, noting that enrolment has risen from 1,800 children in the scheme's first year to around 8,960 by 2023. Government spending on the scheme also increased from €5 million in 2014 to €46 million in 2023, reflecting the rising demand for childcare services.  Beyond statistics, the well-being of our children is what truly matters.

Within the framework of MaltaVision 2050, we must recognize the value of early education for children in childcare, as it benefits not only the children themselves but also working parents. Investing in early education is an investment in our nation's future-if supporting one child yields positive outcomes, imagine the impact of prioritizing quality early education which will complement the childcare initiative and take it to the next level.

Government is demonstrating a strong commitment to putting families at the heart of Maltese policy making and I sincerely believe that in the years to come and in the context of Malta Vision 2050 more initiatives will be taken to the next level.

Claudette Abela Baldacchino is a former Labour MEP