The Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue, Andy Ellul, on Saturday announced a package of social measures intended to support families, particularly prospective parents who experience a miscarriage or parents who lose a minor child.

During a press conference, Ellul explained that these measures emerged from the national consultation on Miscarriage Leave and will come into force on 1 January 2026.

The central measure is the introduction of Miscarriage Leave, designed to provide support to couples who lose a pregnancy. As of the beginning of next year, women who miscarry, together with their partner, will be entitled to seven days of paid leave. The Government will cover the cost of this leave.

The entitlement applies irrespective of marital status and also applies to same-sex couples. It is granted when the pregnancy loss occurs before the twenty-second week, in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. The measure applies to full-time and part-time workers in both the public and private sectors; part-time employees will be remunerated on a pro-rata basis. Self-employed individuals are also eligible.

Applicants must present a medical certificate issued by the woman's gynaecologist. The certificate will not contain clinical details, thereby ensuring privacy for the couple. Partners are equally eligible.

In parallel, psychological support will be offered free of charge through Positive Parenting Malta, he said. Employers are required to treat all cases with strict confidentiality.

Three additional issues raised during the consultation have also been addressed, Ellul said. First, mothers who previously delivered a stillborn baby after twenty-two weeks of pregnancy were not entitled to any form of leave. This has been resolved through a legal amendment granting full maternity leave in such cases.

Second, women who miscarried were often placed in the same hospital ward as parents who had just given birth, causing unnecessary distress. In response, Early Pregnancy Units have been established at Mater Dei Hospital and the Gozo General Hospital to provide a more dignified environment.

Third, parents who lost a minor child were previously entitled to only one or two days of bereavement leave. This has been increased to seven working days, fully paid by the government.

Ellul emphasised that while these measures cannot eliminate the pain of such loss, they signal that affected families are not alone and deserve adequate time for rest and privacy.