Gender equality issues examined

Abstract

Recent years have seen significant efforts by the Maltese government to advance gender equality at work, such as the adoption of the Equality for Men and Women Act in 2003 and the creation of a National Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women in 2004. The social partners agree that men and women should be treated equally, and have undertaken various initiatives in this field, though gender equality does not figure very prominently in collective bargaining. Despite these developments, in practice equality for women at work and in the labour market is yet to be achieved. The Maltese government has sought to strengthen women’s position in the labour market through the development of appropriate legislation. Article 14 of the Constitution of Malta declares that '[t]he state shall promote the equal right of men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights and for this purpose shall take appropriate measures to eliminate all forms of discrimination between the sexes by any person, organisation or enterprise: the state shall in particular aim at ensuring that women workers enjoy equal rights and the same wages for the same work as men.'