The government has launched a social dialogue exercise aimed at agreeing on reforms to strengthen work-life balance in Malta, with discussions set to focus on strengthening maternity, paternity and parental leave, as well as remote working arrangements.
Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul launched a social dialogue in a press conference on Wednesday, bringing together social partners, employers, unions, families and workers with the aim of reaching agreement on reforms to improve work-life balance in Malta.
The initiative seeks to explore how existing measures, including maternity, paternity and parental leave, could be strengthened to better support families’ wellbeing while maintaining economic sustainability and productivity.
Addressing those present, Ellul said Malta was in a position to hold such discussions due to its strong economy and robust labour market, adding that the country had the stability needed to reflect on how working conditions could evolve further.
A central theme of the dialogue will be whether maternity and paternity leave should be made equal, Ellul said.
Ellul raised the question of what message would be sent if maternity and paternity leave remain unequal, asking whether it was time to reconsider the structure of current leave entitlements.
He also opened discussion on whether maternity, paternity and parental leave could be strengthened overall, allowing parents more time with their children during their first years in order to build stronger family bonds.
Another key aspect of the discussion concerns remote working, where Ellul said that remote work may not be suitable for every sector or role, but said there was scope to strengthen its framework in a way that safeguards productivity while ensuring workers are offered good working conditions and respect for their private lives.
He said the aim was to find a balance whereby employees benefit from flexibility and improved work-life conditions, while employers retain efficiency and productivity within their organisations.
The right to disconnect was also raised as part of the reform conversation, as Ellul referred to PL MEP Alex Agius Saliba, who has spearheaded discussions at European level on strengthening workers’ rights to disconnect outside working hours.
The principle is aimed at protecting employees from being expected to remain constantly available beyond their official working time.
During the event, Ellul also announced the establishment of a Technical Committee on Work-Life Balance, which will be chaired by psychotherapist and social worker Ingrid Baldacchino.
Baldacchino explained that the committee’s role will be to gather the various points raised during discussions with social partners, identify areas of agreement, and formulate proposals into a structured document.
That document and recommendations by the Committee will then be presented by the government for public consultation, allowing the wider public to contribute before any reforms are finalised.
Several social partners attended the launch, including representatives of trade unions, employer bodies and Members of Parliament from both sides of the House.
Ellul said that the social dialogue marked the first formal step in what is expected to be a broader reform process aimed at reshaping Malta’s approach to work-life balance in light of changing family dynamics and workplace realities.