GWU welcomes 20-week maternity leave

In a statement issued today, the GWU recognised the extension of the maternity leave as “a step which encourages more women to enter the workforce at a time when Malta has the lowest percentage of women working amongst all EU countries.”

The EP report provided for a minimum of 20 weeks maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave.

The GWU said it is disappointed that the Maltese Government  has declared it will be voting against the extension of maternity leave. “This statement was then again repeated yesterday by the Prime Minister, even though he said the government, in principle, agrees with the extension.”

According to the GWU, this declaration is a far cry from what the European  Nationalists voted in the EP. “Whereas they were against paid maternity leave to rise up to 20 weeks, they were in favour of it to be extended to 18 weeks,” the Union said.

The Union said it will continue to work to introduce family friendly measures which will help to sustain the balance between family life and work.