The government is implementing a measure increasing parental leave three years after it voted against the same proposal when it was made by the Nationalist Party, the PN said Wednesday.
After voting against the PN’s proposals in 2022 to increase paternity leave for fathers and parental leave, the government is now set to begin implementing them, the party added.
When the PN presented a Parliamentary Motion in 2022 urging the Government to extend paternity and parental leave, following the work carried out through the EU Work-Life Balance Directive by PN MEP David Casa, the government chose to vote against it.
Now, belatedly, it has realised this was a mistake and announced that it will start working to extend paternity leave. This once again shows how the Government acts out of partisanship and spite towards the Opposition, forgetting the people in the process, the PN said.
Because of the Government’s obstinacy and arrogance, Maltese families are the ones who suffer. New fathers could have enjoyed more time with their children during these past three years had the government acted with political maturity.
Moreover, the PN has put forward several other proposals to extend maternity leave, to make parental leave usable by both parents, to introduce a pilot project and consultation on a four-day week and many others.
While it is important to safeguard public finances, the PN reminds that these proposals were made in recognition of the fact that time with one’s family is just as essential. And this is exactly what a new Nationalist Government will deliver, the party said.
