Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543022
WOMEN are struggling to re- turn to their jobs after becoming mothers, with rigid work ar- rangements a major contributor, the General Workers' Union has warned. In a statement on Tuesday, the union said that several mem- bers of its professionals, finance and services section reached out about the challenges they face when returning to work after tak- ing maternity leave. The statement referred to the "motherhood penalty", which sees women lose opportunities or be denied flexible work arrange- ments after becoming mothers. Some union members said they found it difficult to return to the same role they held before mater- nity leave, while others had their requests for remote work denied. "This is not just a matter of workplace fairness," section secretary Riccarda Darmanin said. "It is a social and national issue. We cannot expect preg- nant women and new mothers to reenter the workforce without the necessary support to do so with dignity and stability." Darmanin also pointed out that mothers returning to work often have to secure childcare spots months in advance. Once they return to work, they must strictly adhere to the schedules they ar- ranged, putting additional pres- sure on families already strug- gling with logistical and financial challenges. "It is time for the authorities to take this issue seriously. We can- not continue to promote policies that encourage women to have children and then leave them to face a system that offers minimal support," she said. Darmanin called for clear and enforceable mechanisms that guarantee that mothers can safe- ly return to the same positions they held before taking maternity leave. She also called for flexible arrangements, including remote work options where feasible, and childcare solutions that align with the realities working parents face. 5 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 4 FEBRUARY 2026 NEWS IN MEMORIAM 5th February 2026 DE GIORGIO ROGER - On the tenth anniversary of his passing away. Fondly remembered and deeply missed by Nick and Tita, Pat and Michel, Roger and Josianne, Michael and Beverley, John and Monique, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Lord, grant him eternal rest. Shelter from the storm: 81% of Maltese see EU as shield against global instability AMID rising global instability, the Maltese place strong faith in the European Union as a protec- tor, according to a Eurobarome- ter survey. The survey shows that 81% of Maltese respondents believe the EU's role in safeguarding citizens against crises and se- curity risks should become more important. The EU aver- age stands at 66%. The survey also shows that the Maltese are more optimis- tic about the EU's future than about Malta's future or the world at large. Conducted in November against the back- drop of renewed tensions from the war in Ukraine and a fragile ceasefire in Gaza, the findings reveal that 70% of Maltese are optimistic about the EU's fu- ture, while 65% are optimis- tic about Malta's own future. By contrast, only 45% express optimism for the future of the world, with 52% feeling pessi- mistic. While Maltese respondents share the EU-wide level of pes- simism about the world (52%), they stand out for their confi- dence in their country and the EU. Across Europe, 57% of re- spondents are optimistic about both the EU and their own na- tion, whereas among the Mal- tese, optimism rises to 65% for Malta and a striking 70% for the EU. When asked which areas the EU should prioritise to strengthen its global position, 32% of Maltese cited defence and security, 30% education and research, and 24% climate action. Compared with the EU average, Maltese respondents were less likely to mention de- fence and security (32% vs 40%) but more likely to highlight cli- mate action (24% vs 19%). On domestic priorities for the European Parliament, 40% of Maltese said it should focus on inflation and rising prices, sim- ilar to the EU-wide figure of 41%. Maltese respondents were more likely than the EU aver- age to prioritise climate change (34% vs 26%) and migration (31% vs 24%), but less likely to emphasise defence and securi- ty (19% vs 34%). Regarding their personal standard of living over the next five years, Maltese respond- ents were again more optimis- tic than Europeans as a whole. Twenty-six percent of Maltese expect an improvement, com- pared with only 16% of EU respondents. Most expect no change (46% in Malta vs 54% in the EU), and similar percentag- es anticipate a decline (26% in Malta vs 28% in the EU). The survey also shows that the Maltese have a more posi- tive image of the EU than Eu- ropeans overall. While 49% of all EU respondents view the EU positively, this rises to 54% in Malta, where only 11% hold a negative view. Notably, 65% of 15-to-24-year-olds and 65% of those with higher educa- tion have a positive view, while those with lower education tend to maintain a neutral per- spective (59%). Regarding EU membership, 71% of Maltese regard it posi- tively, 6% negatively, and 22% are indifferent. This shows a huge change from 2003 when 46.4 % voted against joining the block. The Eurobarometer survey included 26,453 respondents aged 15 and above across all EU member states, including 500 from Malta, with a margin of error of approximately ±4.4 percentage points. JAMES DEBONO jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt Mothers struggling to return to the workplace, union warns NICOLE MEILAK nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt General Workers Union says women need support to reenter the workforce in a safe and non-discriminatory way