Council of women dub maternity leave fund a ‘win-win contribution’

The National Council of Women welcomed the introduction of the Maternity Leave Trust Fund- a pool that will contribute to maternity leave of women employed in the private sector - and insisted that the fund will be successful in achieving the desired consensus. 

The council said that although female participation in the labour market, including women of childbearing age, has increased and employers are contributing to the maternity leave compensation, discrimination still exists.

Pointing out that private companies in Malta contribute  to the 14-week maternity leave, excluding the four-week contribution by Government, the council said that in other EU countries maternity leave wages are either refunded, after having been paid by the employer, or directly paid by the government.

“The increase of four weeks of maternity leave in recent years had created heated discussions, although it was the result of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that established 18 weeks as the minimum health and safety period of protection for maternilty,” the NCW said.

Employers shall still continue, albeit in a different manner, to contribute  to maternity leave  through the payment of the equivalent of 0.3% of salaries of all employees into the Fund , irrespective of gender. which will serve as a resource for all employers in the private sector.

“The contribution to the Fund is not a burden as one might initially perceive,  it is a win-win measure as employers we will be in a better position to recruit the best of our human capital. It is more than just a a Corporate Social Responsibility, it is a contribution to society that will also serve to eliminate gender discrimination in the recruitment process,” the NCW said.

NCW also recognised that many employers are employing women because they are qualified,  skilled, efficient and  hard working individuals who give added value to the company where they are employed and consequently to  the economic growth of the  company.

“Many employers are aware of the valid service female workers give to the organisation. Refunding the wages paid for the maternity leave to the employer, will emphasise this fact even further,” the council added.