Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/102808
Title: Helping families to balance work and home : proposals for policy
Authors: Abela, Angela
Debono, Maryanne
Farrugia, Ruth
Sant, Stephania
Vella, Anna
Keywords: Families -- Malta
Work-life balance -- Malta
Quality of life -- Malta
Time management
Issue Date: 2004
Publisher: Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Familja
Citation: Abela, A., Debono, M., Farrugia, R., Sant, S., & Vella, A. (2004). Helping families to balance work and home : proposals for policy. Malta: Kummissjoni Nazzjonali Familja.
Abstract: One of the main aims of the National Family Commission is to promote and ensure the integration of social and family policies at all levels of society. As a Commission, we thought that one of the areas on which we should have a clear policy is how to go about helping Maltese families to balance work and family life. This is a great challenge which calls for commitment on the part of the families themselves, as well as favourable policies and services at the workplace and by the state. In Malta, the labour market offers very few friendly measures to the family, especially in the private sector, when compared with other European Countries. In the meantime, the change in labour market participation of the work population calls for new attitudes and adequate structures, so that this phenomenon does not impact negatively on the family, and children in particular. Married women are being encouraged to work outside the home. This has various advantages, one of them being a more balanced representation of society, better use of expertise in the development of our country as well as an increase in the economic contribution to an ageing society, where the birth rate is progressively falling. In the light of this, the way in which men and women perceive family/work roles needs .to change, especially when both partners are employed outside the home. It is important that men feel comfortable when participating in home responsibilities, especially in child care. Various international studies indicate that men's participation in childcare is greatly beneficial to childhood development. It is therefore crucial that men too avail themselves of family friendly policies. If only women can make use of, for example, reduced hours, men will automatically feel that their help would not be appreciated and is secondary to the wife's when it comes to family care. Many men are often reluctant to take time off from work for family reasons because the ideal worker is still perceived as the person who commits himself/herself wholeheartedly to work without thinking of his personal needs and those of his family. Traditionally, the ideal worker is a man whose needs are taken care of by his wife. Globalisation has further glorified this notion of how an ideal worker should be. Large Companies are opting to leave countries where workers have relatively good working conditions to set up their business in underdeveloped countries where workers have long hours and are underpaid. Nevertheless various other companies are adopting policies which challenge the myth that the ideal worker is the one who is committed solely to work. It has been acknowledged that a worker who has a balanced life is more creative and productive, and contributes better than a worker who is constantly engaged in work. The National Family Commission believes that even in Malta, the time is ripe to deconstruct the idea of how an ideal worker should be. The repercussions of the lack of balance between work and family life are of serious detriment to the family and the state. For example a married couple who opt to work for long hours will not find the time for each other. They would not have the energy to take care of their children, their elderly or other members of their extended family who need care and support. In a world which is pushing us to live to work rather than work to live, it is not at all surprising that young couples are preferring to have less children. This choice will have a direct and serious impact upon the balance between the older and younger generations. Ironically statistics show that it is those parents who do not work long hours and are not well paid who have more children. In view of these new challenges which Maltese families are facing, the National Family Commission is putting forward its proposals for creating a better balance between work and family. It was of great satisfaction for the Commission to draw up these proposals in a collaborative atmosphere with the various entities having a direct interest in the area. We wish to thank them for their interest. As we exchanged views, we felt that there was a general consensus between the various entities regarding the need for work and family balance. This confirmed our belief that the time has come to treat this aspect of our lives more seriously. We fear that failing to do this would cost us dearly in the future. Finally I cannot but thank my colleagues, members of the core group within the National Family Commission who are the authors of this document, I would also like to thank all the members of the National Family Commission for their contributions to this document.
URI: https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/102808
Appears in Collections:Scholarly Works - FacSoWFS



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