10-Day Paternal Leave Will Soon Become A Reality In Malta After European Parliament Approves Resolution
Maltese fathers could soon be granted 10 days of paternity after the European Parliament approved the Work-Life Balance directive.
The legislation will also see both parents entitled to four months of parental leave. Two of the four months will be paid and must be shared between both parents.
The Maltese government now has three years to implement the legislation.
Maltese MEP David Casa, who was the European People’s Party’s lead negotiator for the directive, told Malta Today that the directive marked a positive day for all European families.
“The Parliament has widely adopted the agreement for work-life balance rules, setting up several new individual rights, not only for parents, but also for those who care for their relatives,” Casa said.
“What we have agreed upon will not only translate into a better quality of life for our citizens, but will also increase productivity and help reduce the gender pay and pension gap,” the Maltese MEP continued.
The directive will also enable a better balance and relationship between employee and employer, Casa said adding that the cost of such inequalities amount “to almost 3% of the EU GDP in 2013”.
Speaking after the directive was approved by 490 votes to 82, MEP Agnieszka Kozłowska-Rajewicz, another lead negotiator said that the legislation would give both “mothers and fathers the opportunity to have equal rights to take care of their children and to pursue their professional careers”.
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