Rosianne Cutajar Pushes For Strengthening Maternity Leave

Labour MP Rosianne Cutajar has continued to push forward an issue that she says many have raised with her: strengthening maternity leave.

‘Every parent, especially mothers, knows that the first months of a baby’s life are crucial for their development’, said Cutajar.

‘Ensuring that a mother has the time to recover from childbirth and to grow into her new role is an investment not only in her and her family, but in the future of our society.’

This comes as Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue and Housing Andy Ellul launches a national reform aimed at strengthening the work-life balance, including extending parental leave, maternity leave and paternity leave, as well as expanding remote working arrangements.

Speaking during a National Conference, Ellul confirmed that the Government is committed to enhancing existing family-related leave entitlements.

Discussions will explore extending maternity and paternity leave, while also reinforcing parental leave to provide families with greater support during important stages of childcare.

One of the key proposals under consideration is the consolidation of the various parental leave schemes into a single Support Leave framework.

This would bring different leave categories under one umbrella, with broad agreement to be reached on the number of days allocated.

The reform also includes a push to widen access to remote working in sectors where it is practical and does not negatively impact productivity. The aim is to introduce greater flexibility in the workplace while maintaining economic performance.

A Technical Committee composed of representatives from a broad cross-section of society will gather feedback from stakeholders, prepare a consultation document and analyse public submissions before presenting recommendations to Government.

Final decisions will be taken following the consultation process, with the objective of delivering stronger support for Maltese and Gozitan families.

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