Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1173510
03.10.19 3 WOMEN earned an average basic sal- ary that was €3,641 less than that for men in June this year but figures out this week point towards a diminishing gap. According to the Labour Force Sur- vey, released by the National Statis- tics Office, the annual basic salary for women stood at €17,473 in the second quarter of 2019. e equivalent for men stood at €21,114. However, when compared to the same period last year the gap in average an- nual salaries reduced by almost €800. In 2018, the difference between the annual average salary for men and women stood at €4,418. e figures suggest that the disparity in salaries between men and women is three-pronged: there are fewer wom- en in higher paying managerial posts, more women have part-time work as their main source of income, and the average pay for women in the different occupational groups is below that of men. e LFS shows that 13,361 men em- ployed as managers earned an average of €37,579, while the 7,916 women em- ployed as managers earned an average of €29,030. e disparity at managerial level was the widest among all occupa- tional groups. e closest gap was among tech- nicians and associate professionals, where men's annual average salary was €1,616 higher than that for women. In the second quarter of 2019, the overall average annual basic salary was €19,484, an increase of €542, on the same period last year. Average annual salaries varied from €34,399 among managers to €12,370 among persons employed in elementa- ry occupations. e highest overall basic salary was recorded in the financial and insurance activities sector at €26,015 (average for men stood at €29,331; for women €22,667). e lowest basic salary was in the wholesale and retail sector at €16, 317 (average for men stood at €18,937; for women €12,536). Female employment rate up e LFS shows that there were 251,700 people in employment, of which almost 16% are self-employed. e figures show that 8,815 people are unemployed, while 164,001 are considered inactive. e figures show that 73% of peo- ple between 15 and 64 are employed. Among men, 80.7% are employed, a figure that has remained almost static in a year. However, the female employment rate increased by more than three points to 64.6% in June this year. Women's average basic salary trails by almost €4,000 but gap with men is closing Helena Dalli in front of MEPs FROM PAGE 1 "The EPP raised some questions but eventually voted in favour of Helena Dalli's nomination," the source said. The information was confirmed by a second source close to the EPP, who said Dalli was confirmed "comforta- bly", however her letter will include "a long list of issues that have not been sufficiently covered". This is not expected to influence the overall positive assessment. Dalli did not secure the support of the conservative and far-right group- ings - the ECR, and Identity and De- mocracy. She had a good showing earlier in Brussels as she fielded questions from MEPs from three different commit- tees. During the hearing, Dalli twice re- peated that three men were charged with Daphne Caruana Galizia's mur- der just 50 days after the assassina- tion, in a standard reply to MEPs. She was asked two questions about lack of progress in the murder inves- tigation but each time she was careful in giving her standard reply. She also insisted on describing the murder as a "femicide". Dalli's replies on the Caruana Galizia murder were the only instances where she appeared uncomfortable when taking questions from MEPs during her grilling process in Brussels today. She was more forthright when asked about former Cabinet colleague Kon- rad Mizzi's actions in relation to the Panama Papers revelations, telling MEPs that she disagreed with his ac- tions and she "would have done things totally different". Asked by Nationalist MEP David Casa on how she intended to ensure that there would not be "a law for gods and another for animals", Dalli insist- ed that throughout her political life she always worked for good govern- ance, the rule of law, and democracy. "I supported a law [in Malta] where- by politicians will remain accounta- ble for their deeds until death… You know my credentials very well," she answered. In a three-hour hearing, Dalli ap- peared very confident when address- ing questions on the equality portfo- lio, earning herself several applauses along the way. Her unwavering commitment to equality was evident and appeared to have gone down well with MEPs. Dal- li's experience on the subject matter also shone through. Dalli promised to work on a com- mission proposal for pay transparen- cy in the first 100 days, insisting that transparency was the first step to start addressing the gender pay gap. She committed herself to push for im- plementation of the Work-Life Balance Directive approved earlier this year, adding it was an important first step. Dalli earned plaudits for her com- mitment to push for the EU's ratifi- cation of the Istanbul Convention on gender-based violence as a bloc. Some member states have blocked the convention's ratification. Dalli earned further points when she put down a far-right MEP, who expressed concern on people who de- cided to change their legal gender at a whim. "Changing gender is not a walk in the park… everyone deserves to be treated equally," Dalli responded in a passionate tone. Her remarks were welcomed by loud applause. On abortion, Dalli skilfully avoided a mine field. While acknowledging that abortion was a national competence and that she will respect EU trea- ties on the matter, she pledged to do everything possible to protect sexual and reproductive rights "without ex- ception". She avoided detail when asked how she was planning to improve access to reproductive rights but used catch phrases like "women's rights are hu- man rights" and "I am a committed feminist". Malta is the only EU country to have a complete ban on abortion. Dalli was clear and unequivocal when asked about the rights of per- sons with a disability, insisting that she would do everything in her power to ensure the UN convention is imple- mented and mainstreamed. Equality Minister praises Helena Dalli's performance European Affairs and Equality Min- ister Edward Zammit Lewis applaud- ed Helena Dalli's ambitious equality portfolio following her grilling in the European Parliament on Wednesday. "I think Helena Dalli performed very well and showed that she has an am- bitious portfolio," Zammit Lewis told MaltaToday. Zammit Lewis was nominated by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to take Dalli's place as Equality Minister. Dal- li, Malta's commissioner-designate, fielded questions on Wednesday night as an intense test before MEPs decide on her nomination to hold the equal- ity portfolio in the next European Commission. "The responses she gave to MEPs re- vealed her competence and abilities in the field of equality, which she gained from her impressive track-record back in Malta. "From her comments on equality in the realm of disability to uniform laws on anti-discrimination, gender pay gap, and her call for tougher laws on domestic violence, Dalli has disclosed what an ambitious portfolio she aims to have," Zammit Lewis said. PAGE 4: Questions linger on Commission nominees Dalli performs well in MEP grilling