AD believes that family friendly measures in various forms are essential to ensure both a work-life balance as well as a better and longer commitment of workers to their work.Robert Callus, AD spokesperson on social policy, said: “The recent pronouncements of the Chamber of Commerce against the proposal made by the Government that working parents of small children may utilise their sick-leave for the purpose of looking after their sick children points to the lack of sensitivity towards the plight of workers in such situations. AD believes that such a measure would encourage more parents of small children, especially mothers, to remain in full-time employment.”
“Furthermore, there are workers, such as teachers, who are not entitled to vacation leave. AD agrees with Minister Coleiro Preca that the Chamber should look at the wider picture and not only at employers’ interests. AD urges the Government and the social partners to discuss the matter and to find the most effective solution, particularly in the case of small companies, which may need the support of Government in such matters.”
Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson, said: “AD believes that if we are truly committed to gender equality and a just labour market, all efforts should be made to ensure that workers, especially working parents of small children, are able to find an effective balance between work and family responsibilities. This is not only beneficial to workers, but also to employers and to the economy of the country. Otherwise we would only be paying lip service to gender equality.”
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AD temmen li miżuri favur il-familja fid-diversi forom tagħhom huma essenzjali biex jintlaħaq bilanċ bejn xogħol u ħajja privata kif ukoll biex il-ħaddiema jkunu jistgħu jikkommettu ruħhom aktar lejn ix-xogħol u l-karriera tagħhom.Robert Callus, il-kelliem ta’ AD dwar il-politika soċjali, qal: “Il-pożizzjoni riċenti tal-Kamra tal-Kummerċ kontra l-proposta tal-Gvern li ġenituri ta’ tfal zgħar ikunu jistgħu jużaw is-sick leave taghom meta jkollhom it-tfal ma jifilħux turi nuqqas ta’ sensitivita kbira lejn il-problemi li jaffaċċjaw ħaddiema f’dawn iċ-ċirkostanzi. AD temmen li miżura bħal din tħajjar aktar ġenituri ta’ tfal żgħar, l-aktar ommijiet, biex jibqgħu jaħdmu full-time.
“Barra minn hekk, hemm ħaddiema, bħall-għalliema, li m’humiex intitolati għal jiem ta’ frank. AD taqbel mal-Ministru Coleiro Preca li l-Kamra tal-Kummerc tħares lejn l-istampa aktar wiesgħa u mhux biss lejn l-interess ta’ min iħaddem. AD issejjaħ lill-Gvern u l-imsieħba soċjali biex jiddiskutu s-suggett u jippruvaw isibu l-aħhjar soluzzjoni, speċjalment fil-każ ta’ kumpaniji żgħar, li jista’ jkun ikunu jeħtieġu l-għajnuna tal-Gvern biex ikunu jistgħu iwettqu miżura bħal din.”
Arnold Cassola, ic-Chairperson ta’ AD, qal: “AD temmen li jekk aħna verament irridu naraw ugwaljanza bejn nisa u rġiel u jekk irridu li jkollna suq tax-xogħol gust, għandu jsir kull sforz biex il-ħaddiema kollha, speċjalment dawk li għandhom tfal zgħar, jirnexxielhom isibu bilanċ effettiv bejn xogħol u familja. Dan m’huwiex biss ta’ benefiċċju għall-ħaddiema, imma wkoll għal min iħaddem u għall-ekonomija tal-pajjiż. Inkella nkunu qegħdin inpaċpċu biss.
