So far Labour’s proposal on the lowering of the water and electricity bills has dominated the electoral campaign. True, it is a very important issue but it is not the only one which a future government must see to imminently.
Amongst the many proposals presented by Labour last week is that regarding the provision of free childcare services. This measure gives women an added incentive to work, to be productive within the local economic context and not to desist from furthering their career.
- Low female participation rate
One of the reasons for the downgrade which credit rating agency Standard and Poor’s gave Malta last week was precisely due to the low female participation rate in the labour market. Through this proposal Labour is providing a feasible and tangible method how Malta can tackle this shortcoming in a sustainable manner. I say sustainable because although in the first year this measure is expected to cost €3.1 million, by the fifth year this expense will turn into a surplus.
- Dignity and self-fulfilment
This measure will give women added dignity by providing them with the opportunity to be productive and to contribute towards the economic development of the island. One should not discard the positive effect of them being more economically independent and also increasing their purchasing power.
- Optimal use of natural resources
As everyone knows, Malta does not have any natural resources which it can exploit. The only resource we have is labour. This proposal seeks to ascertain that the island makes use of this resource as much as possible.
- Increased quality
In principle I am against the use of quotas – whether they are used to elect more women to the House of Representatives or to appoint more women on company boards. I believe that there are – and I know that there are – women who are capable of holding high-ranking positions and/or positions of trust on their own merit, intelligence and capabilities and not just because they are women.
I feel that, in the long run, this measure will also ensure that there will be more women of quality available from which to choose.
- Better return on investment in education
It is a fact that there are more females then males at the University of Malta, Junior College, MCAST, etc. It is a pity that there are females who have undertaken such studies who then make little or no use whatsoever of these because they choose to place their family before their career.
Therefore, this measure will not only bring about the positive developments I have mentioned above, but it will also ensure that the investment being made on a yearly basis in education will be put to a better use within the Maltese economy – it will ensure that there will be a better return on the investment made.
This proposal is a positive one on numerous levels – not only for women but also for Malta’s economy.
Full points.
Marc
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