7 key takeaways on how Malta’s working parents want to improve family life

A recent study, commissioned by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) and conducted by Professors Anna Borg and Liberato Camilleri, sheds light on the difficulties and proposes solutions to support work-life balance and improve fertility intentions in the country.

BusinessNow.mt delved into the findings of the study and highlighted what it considers to be the most noteworthy insights.

Women work fewer hours per week to take on more unpaid work in the family

While 96.5 per cent of men work full-time (at least 40 hours per week), only 65.8 per cent of women do so. A significant number of women, 30.4 per cent, work fewer hours (21–39 hours weekly), typically to take on more unpaid family responsibilities.

This imbalance reflects entrenched societal expectations, with women bearing the brunt of domestic work and childcare, exacerbating work-family conflicts. Only 2.2 per cent of respondents work 20 hours or less per week, with women significantly more likely than men to work these reduced hours.

More men than women reported that their position at work improved since having their first child

The study found that parenthood impacts men and women differently in their professional lives. Nearly 70 per cent of men reported that their position at work improved after becoming a parent, compared to 58.4 per cent of women. Conversely, 21.5 per cent of women said their position worsened, compared to 17 per cent of men.

This discrepancy highlights the persistent barriers women face in career progression, often due to their disproportionate caregiving responsibilities. These findings underscore the need for more inclusive workplace policies that support women’s career development after parenthood.

Parents believe there should be special leave when children are sick

Parents overwhelmingly agreed on the necessity of special leave when children are unwell. The current provision of 15 hours of urgent family leave and five days of unpaid carer leave annually is seen as inadequate, particularly when compared to other countries where leave extends up to 120 days.

90 per cent of men and 89.4 per cent of women expressed support for introducing such a measure. While preferences for the duration of this leave varied, 38.9 per cent of respondents proposed 10 days as an appropriate amount of time.

Shorter working hours and more flexibility at work would encourage more people to have children

Flexible working arrangements emerged as a critical factor in encouraging parents to have more children.

Respondents cited options such as remote work, flexible hours, and reduced working hours as key solutions to improve work-life balance.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the viability of remote work, yet many employers, including the Government, have scaled back these arrangements. This approach runs counter to the preferences of the vast majority of respondents, with 89.4 per cent emphasising the importance of spatial flexibility.

Private sector provides better financial opportunities via promotions and progression

The private sector appears to offer better financial opportunities for workers, with 71.6 per cent of private-sector employees reporting career improvements compared to 57.4 per cent in the public sector. Respondents attributed this to greater prospects for promotion, progression, and better income in private organisations.

However, the study noted that these financial incentives alone are not sufficient to boost fertility intentions.

Men need to seek more work-family balance and challenge ‘ideal worker’ norms

Traditional masculine norms that equate full-time work with success were evident in the study. While 96.5 per cent of men work full-time, 68.1 per cent of respondents agreed that excessive work commitments by men negatively impact family life.

Social campaigns highlighting the benefits of work-life balance for men, particularly fathers, are recommended to challenge these norms. Greater awareness could pave the way for a more equitable distribution of responsibilities between men and women.

Parents in Malta want longer and better paid paternity leave

The study revealed a strong demand for enhanced parental leave policies. Only 17 per cent of female respondents believed the current maternity leave duration was adequate, with 83 per cent calling for extensions of six to 12 months.

Similarly, there was support for increasing paternity leave from the current 10 days to four weeks. Respondents also called for full pay replacement during any extended leave, underscoring the need to value caregiving work on par with paid employment.

The study concludes with several policy recommendations to address these challenges:

• Extend maternity leave to at least six months with full pay.
• Increase paternity leave to four weeks.
• Introduce special leave for when children are sick.
• Offer flexible working hours and remote work options.
• Conduct trials for shorter working weeks in Malta, drawing on successful examples from other countries.
• Launch awareness campaigns to challenge traditional gender roles and promote work-life balance for men.