Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1270964
11 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 19 JULY 2020 Dr Kurt Borg is a research officer at the Faculty for Social Wellbeing, University of Malta OPINION Carmelo Abela IVF: even professional lives must cater to our aspirations AT the end of June I had announced a new le- gal notice that would amend the IVF leave or- der as part of the Employment and Industrial Relations Act. Quite a technical announcement which however is etched in a strong sense of hu- manity. The new Labour government post-2013 has always given special consideration to the as- pirations of individuals and couples who had to resort to IVF in order to build a family unit that includes children. In its first legislature, the Labour government introduced a free national IVF service and in the 2017 electoral manifesto we promised this service would be further ex- panded through improvements in the law, to better reflect the advances made in technology. That election promise was fulfilled and in Octo- ber 2018 new amendments to the IVF law were put in place, expanding the services provided and thus providing better support to individuals and couples who dream of becoming parents. Individuals and couples going through this delicate process will have to undergo tests and procedures that might keep them away from work. In view of this, as from May 2017 govern- ment started granting up to 100 hours of paid leave to couples who intended to undergo IVF, in both the public and private sectors. Through these latest amendments, prospec- tive parents and single people who are em- ployed, and who submit to the process of med- ically assisted procreation, will be now entitled to 60 hours of paid leave, per cycle, up to a max- imum of three IVF processes. Similarly, where one of the prospective par- ents is an oocyte donor, with the other pro- spective parent being the recipient, if employed these prospective parents will be entitled to 60 hours of full paid leave from their respective employers. Through these amendments, even an oocyte donor who is not a prospective parent shall be entitled to 60 hours of paid leave. The amendments are the result of a wide con- sultation process that included officials from the Embryo Protection Authority, the Human Rights and Integration Directorate but also with the Employment Relations Board. Indeed this change and advancement in order to provide those who are undergoing the IVF process with better support, is much more than a better leave package for a particular group of people. Government is committed to giving more rights to workers that tangibly affects the bal- ance between progress in professional life and aspirations in their private life. We are also committed to ensuring equality between all citizens, and improving working conditions. We also believe that we should be supportive of all families, in their diversity. More than that, through this particular meas- ure we have also expressed the merited ac- knowledgement to individuals who are willing to give their children the opportunity to grow up in the love and affection they deserve. As long as more children are receiving the love and care they deserve, we will always help and not hinder. As the ministry responsible for work condi- tions, we aim to push our workforce towards a professional life that caters to and helps them achieve their human aspirations. For what is work without the opportunity to celebrate and savour one's professional achievements, in their personal life in the way that they deem fit and with whomever they wish to share them with? Providing more space and time off work to employees involved in an IVF cycle is therefore a logical step that we are proud to take. Government is also committed to further im- proving working conditions. Indeed, another le- gal notice that will come into force at the end of this month deals with regulations on employees posted in Malta. As long as their entry is legal and their activity covered with permits and in line with our pol- icies, all employees need to be safeguarded and treated with respect while they render a service amongst us. if any government MPs would muster enough courage to con- demn their colleagues beyond cryptic Facebook posts. Don't wash your dirty linen in public, they'd say, while they come up with the next excuse. They have tricked people who put them in power with inclusive (or, rath- er, ideologically fluid) rhetoric. What their attitude actually amounted to was an unprinci- pled economics on steroids. It is true that the economy bloomed, but some would say that the price paid for this was way too high. The arrogant overconfidence that resulted from large elec- toral victories continued to sus- tain the government's bullish attitude. Moreover, it served to protect Konrad Mizzi, Chris Cardona and Joseph Muscat from obvious resignations. Not to mention people like Keith Schembri, an unelected figure who, for these last years, has engaged in incredibly question- able behaviour and called the shots from the backroom. Or people like Kenneth Camill- eri and Neville Gafà, the hench- man who proudly admitted to coordinating missions to Libya that practically amount to the pushback of migrants. Reacting to the Prime Minister calling on Konrad Mizzi to suspend him- self from the Labour Party par- liamentary group, Gafà reacted with machismo by calling on the disgraced former Minister not to be "bla bajd" and stay on. All this has transformed poli- tics into a circus. Our politicians have made a joke of institutions, procedures, décor, political de- bate and partisan politics. This is what will continue to domi- nate the political landscape if it is not for a strong democratic civil society. In a time where the Opposition leaves much to be desired, civil society can serve as a critical opposition that en- sures that the people are at the heart of politics. This includes a constant questioning of whose voices are in danger of being left out, a democratic consideration of differences rather than divi- sive exclusions. This is why civil society needs to be protected. It is not easy to combat dirty politics and com- plex institutional corruption. However, the power of civil so- ciety should not be under-esti- mated. As emerged in Melvin Theuma's testimony, he and Yorgen Fenech were scared and bothered by the civil society protests. If these actions worry those who, to put it mildly, en- gage in wrongdoing, then they are on the right track. Now more than ever, believing in such a thing as a truly dem- ocratic civil society is our only hope. This change and advancement in order to provide those who are undergoing the IVF process with better support, is much more than a better leave package for a particular group of people Carmelo Abela is minister within the Office of the Prime Minister