MEPs discuss work-life balance and gender equality

The European Parliament Office and the European Commission Representation in Malta organized a debate about the different aspects of gender equality in relation to work-life balance.

“The wide range of issues that came up proves the complexity of the subject and especially its subjective nature,” The European Parliament office in Valletta said in a statement.

“Career women are often asked how they cope, juggling work and family commitments. Men are rarely, if ever, asked the same question,” the statement reads.

 MEP Roberta Metsola said that the most important thing was to respect each other's decisions without judging, because everyone’s situation was unique.

“Not to mention that we discuss the subject presuming people have a job and an education, which is not the case for many people in Europe at the moment,” Metsola added hinting to wider issues.

MEP Alfred Sant also agreed with this view and said that one couldn’t speak of a work-like balance with those who were unemployed, at risk of poverty or in precarious jobs.

“These are all pressures that impact heavily on one's quality of life irrespective of gender,” he said stressing the need to think of all segments of society.

"Finding quality time at home requires good time-management", MEP Therese Comodini Cachia said adding that what matters the most in a family environment is the quality of time.

The three MEPs shared their views with a number of business leaders and HR professionals present at the debate, and MEPs Miriam Dalli and Marlene Mizzi sent video messages.

“Both women spoke about recent initiatives aimed at improving access to the labour market for women, and better work-life balance for families; including free child-care and fiscal incentives for women who return to the job market,” the statement continues.

Ivan Bartolo, CEO of 6PM, was amongst a number of employers who shared their views on the subject.

“Good management should as much as possible allow the necessary flexibility to employees, as long as certain levels of performance are met,” he said.

“However, the situation is different depending on the nature of the job, the family situation of the individual and several other factors,” Bartolo added.

Rachel Attard, Head of News of The Malta Independent moderated the debate and the two panels included lawyer Nickie Vella De Fremeaux, TV presenter Andrea Cassar, managing director of Alert Communication, Claudine Cassar, and HR Manager at Air Malta Roberto Cristiano.

The European Parliament passes a resolution assessing progress made towards achieving equality between women and men every year.

This year's report (for 2013), authored by Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, was presented during the March Plenary Session in Strasbourg and found that despite progress on some gender inequality issues, much remains to be done to reduce pay gaps, remove “glass ceilings” on women’s careers, remedy their lack of economic independence and improve their work/life balance, including parental leave.

"Women and men are not and never will be identical, but it is in everyone's interest that they should have the same rights", Tarabella had said when the report was adopted.