Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1494460
9 EDITORIAL BusinessToday is published every Thursday. The newspaper is a MediaToday publication and is distributed to all leading stationers, business and financial institutions and banks. MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EDITOR: PAUL COCKS BusinessToday, MediaToday, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN9016, Malta Newsroom email: bt@mediatoday.com.mt Advertising: afarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Telephone: 00356 21 382741 T he introduction of free child- care for working parents in 2014 was a crucial develop- ment to enable more women to join the workforce. The service subsidised by the government alleviated the financial burden associated with pre-school childcare and provided the neces- sary impetus for women to work and earn an income. It was arguably one of the most important decisions taken over the past 10 years to address the lack of participation of women in the labour force and a boon for the economy. But breaking the glass ceiling will require more concerted decisions to address the gender pay gap, which is a complicated matter. Some progress was registered with introduction of more gener- ous paternity leave last year. This leader believes it is still not enough and the country must aim to put paternal leave on equal footing with maternal leave thus ensuring that the inherent handicap women sometimes face when joining the labour market is eliminated. Studies show that where fathers take parental leave, mothers tend to return to the labour market, female employment is higher and the earnings gap between men and women is lower. Moving down this road requires bold decisions but also a cultural change that involves men as much as it does women. This can start being achieved by an education system that imparts values of respect and equality; a system where home work is viewed as partnership between the spouses irrespective of their gender. But action also has to be taken to ensure more representation of women in senior management roles in the private and public sectors, and political jobs. The gender corrective mechanism was used for the first time in the last general election and it led to a healthy representation of women in parliament. The next stage should see stronger participation by these women in parliamentary and public life. But the political parties also have to step up to grant these women meaningful space. In the private sector, businesses need to be bolder as well. Creat- ing work environments that are amenable to women is not only a choice based on values but also a choice that helps foster a more content workforce, and by natural progression a more productive one. A concerted effort is required on a national level to advance the plight of working women. The Malta Council for Economic and Social Development must create a working group that draws up a hit list of actions that should be taken over the short-, medium-, and long-term. Underpinning these actions should be the value of equality and fostering a healthier work-life balance. Advancing women's aspirations and shattering the inbuilt barriers that prevent them from moving forward in their careers, will not only benefit women but also men and society in general. A lot has been achieved but the speed at which it has been achieved is disappointing. Society has lost too much time getting there. Malta needs to make that feminist leap forward. Government could act as a catalyst for change but the private sector should also embrace this and make it its own mission. A feminist leap forward 9.3.2023