Inclusion of both genders 'enhances social inclusion, combats poverty'

According to Justice Minister Chris Said, in the context of the current European policy and in the economic crisis, women's increased participation in economic, social and political life of European societies is crucial for further growth.

"Women constitute the largely unused potential of human capital. Undoubtedly, positive actions taken to equalise the situation of women and men on the labour market as well as in social and economic spheres lead to equality," Said said.

One of Europe's policy to increase female participation in the labour market was to be the introduction of gender quotas on publicly listed firms. However, the European Commission decided the gender balance directive should be postponed.

Malta had been one of declared countries that would have vetoed the boardroom gender quotas.

During his intervention today at a seminar for female employment and economic growth, Chris Said insisted that safeguarding equal treatment between men and women was crucial towards ensuring equality of opportunity in access and participation of both genders in all spheres of life.

"In effect, if there is to be de facto equality in society, the contribution of both genders in the labour market is needed not only to boost economic development but also to enhance social inclusion and combat poverty," he said.

The minister added that stereotypes, as barriers to equality, were "a complex problem based on the rule of authority".

"The policies of equalising rights of men and women should be characterized by progress achieved with rational goals and active participation of all interested parties," he said.

According to Said, Malta today had the largest ever percentage of qualified and competent women as Judges, Magistrates, Permanent Secretaries, Permanent Representative in Brussels, Ambassadors, Chairpersons of Public Sector entities and more.

"We are committed to sustain further economic, cultural and social changes, so as to encourage even more women, particularly those in the higher age brackets, to remain active in the labour market and contribute to their own advancement and the country's development in the years ahead," Said said.

While stating that the labour market constituted an important mechanism to empower women to participate more equally, the minister said government recognised the need to support women in entering the labour market.

"We need to improve their career prospects and support actions that reduce the gender gap. Improving the female participation rate is primarily dependent upon improving forms of work organisation as a means of placing employees at the heart of economic transformation and growth."

Malta's female participation rate in the labour went up by 10% in these last six years.

"The government is working closely with social partners and other stakeholders to increase female activity rates by improving the quality of jobs made available through fostering a culture of vocational training and life-long learning," Said said.

Today, he added, there were 72 registered childcare facilities, 51 of which privalety owned, four run by the Church, seven which are public-private partnerships and 10 set up by the Foundation for Educational Services.

These 10 centres provided by government provide means testing and thus cate for families with low income.