Titlu

Implement Paternity and Parental leave in Malta for Fathers and Second parents as per EU directive

Data

29-06-2021

Data li l-petizzjoni tagħlaq għall-firem

29-08-2021

Min ħoloq il-petizzjoni

PAULINE BORG

Ilment

On the 20th June 2019, the EU passed the Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers (work-life balance directive). This directive states that all member states need to implement a supportive system of paternity and parental leave. This would give fathers (or equivalent second parents) at least 10 working days of paternity leave around the time of birth of their children. Each parent will also be able to request four months leave, including two months that cannot be transferred between parents. This can be availed of in a flexible way.

The EU has clearly established that extended paternity and parental leave is a necessity. The World health Organisation had already established this back in 2007 stating that; a generous parental leave system, enabling longer paid parental leave, gives parents better opportunities to combine work and family life. Several studies have found that this positively affects both gender equality and health outcomes. (WHO 2007).

We present this petition on behalf of Positive Birth Malta; a local movement in force since 2017, whose aim is to raise awareness on positive birth and to provide a supportive network for parents during the journey of childbearing. Parents who attended our meetings have repeatedly brought up the issue of paternity leave, or rather the dire lack of it in Malta. Therefore we felt the need to act on this consistent feedback and pass on the message from the community to parliament.

Għaldaqstant umilment nitlob/nitolbu lill-Kamra tad-Deputati sabiex

Transpose the provisions relating to the right to paternity leave, as well as the right to parental leave and the right to request flexible working arrangements, into national law at the earliest possible, rather than waiting until August 2022. The families who are expecting a child now and in the near future will benefit from these measures.

Rimarki tal-għeluq

Increased involvement by fathers and second parents benefits both them as parents, as well as the mother/first parent and children, in the form of better health and wellbeing for all the family. Employers also benefit because fathers or second parents will be more motivated after taking their leave and feel more committed to their organisation. They can be more productive and better at prioritizing their time. Therefore offering paternity leave and expanding its benefit holds positive outcomes for both employees, employers, family and the society at large.