Marking International Women’s Day, the Malta Women’s Lobby (MWL) issued a call for urgent reforms to improve women’s lives, emphasising two key issues: the struggle to balance paid employment with unpaid family responsibilities and the justice system’s failure to protect women from violence.
The MWL warned that Malta’s alarmingly low fertility rate reflects a long-standing lack of governmental support for working mothers. “Women are expected to earn an income as if they have no family obligations, and simultaneously rear children as if they have no paid work responsibilities,” the MWL said, arguing that this unrealistic burden forces many women to limit the number of children they have.
“Women are sending a strong message that they want longer maternity leave, well-paid parental leave for both parents, the possibility to take time off when their children are sick, and more flexible work options in terms of time and location,” the MWL said. The organisation also urged greater state support to ease the financial strain of raising children and calls for a more equal division of housework and caregiving responsibilities between partners.
The MWL insisted that policies must do more than offer “the bare minimum” and urges the government to implement comprehensive support measures that allow women to “thrive both at work and at home.”
The MWL also highlighted serious concerns over the justice system’s handling of violence against women. “Perpetrators of abuse and violence are too often being handed alarmingly lenient sentences, sending a distressing message to both victims and society at large,” the organisation said.
Calling for a “thorough review of sentencing guidelines,” the MWL insisted that penalties must meet the requirements of the Istanbul Convention and include “dissuasive sanctions” to hold offenders accountable. “We urgently need a well-trained judiciary that recognises the deep, lasting trauma such violence inflicts,” the statement continues. Victims must feel secure in seeking justice, knowing their suffering will not be “trivialised in our law courts.”
The MWL called on the state, the judiciary, and all relevant stakeholders to take decisive action. “If we are to create a fairer society, we must address these issues decisively and immediately,” the organisation urges, insisting that it is the legal system’s duty to protect women and deliver justice that serves as a real deterrent.
GWU demands equal pay and transparency
The General Workers’ Union (GWU) took the opportunity of International Women’s Day to bring attention to the critical importance of addressing the gender pay gap by advocating for wage transparency.
The GWU is actively engaged in an EU initiative to put into practice the Pay Transparency Directive, mandating that companies reveal their pay structures. Nonetheless, certain employers are pushing back against these initiatives.
“The obligation to report wages is crucial for reducing the gender pay gap. Weakening this directive would harm all workers, especially women,” said GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja.
Bugeja stressed that workplaces with unions play a crucial role in reducing discrimination by ensuring that wages are based on job roles rather than gender. He advocated for more rigorous enforcement and oversight to eliminate pay inequalities.
“We will keep pushing for these reforms. Equality is a core value for us,” Bugeja concluded.
Momentum party calls for respect
On International Women’s Day, the political party Momentum focused that genuine gender equality starts with respect.
They advocated for fair compensation for similar roles, the elimination of archaic cultural biases, and initiatives that support women in managing both their careers and family responsibilities.
Momentum centred on the critical need for more decisive action against domestic violence, asserting that “every case must receive immediate protection and tangible measures.”
