Malta Employers reaffirms its role as a key stakeholder in shaping Malta’s long-term socio-economic policies, particularly those that impact families and the country’s long-term socio-economic development.
Over the past decade, the Association has consistently advocated for the family’s pivotal role in securing the country’s social and economic stability. It has done so notably by highlighting Malta’s demographic challenges and declining birth rate, endeavouring to bring these matters to fore in the national agenda.
In this context, it participated in the launch of the Policy Document “A Social Plan for the Family” and welcomes both the overarching approach and the strategic pillars on which the Policy is built. The Association particularly commends the emphasis on enhancing Malta’s Fertility Rate and the commitment to a data-driven, evidence-based policymaking framework.
Malta Employers also welcomes the Document’s recognition for the importance of awareness building in addressing the low birth-rate issue. Indeed, the Association agrees on the strong value of national awareness campaigns that strengthen cultural narratives and societal attitudes that value children as a social good whilst advocating positive family values and shared responsibilities between parents. Malta Employers also suggests awareness campaigns on enhancing solidarity at the workplace between workers that are raising children and others that currently are not. This spirit of solidarity can enable both the State and employers at large to implement measures that truly support family growth without compromising workplace harmony.
Going forward, the Association looks ahead to further discussion on the detailed measures that will follow this high-level policy. While there is widespread consensus around the policy’s ultimate vision — strong families at the core of a thriving society – there may be varying perspectives on how best to achieve it. The over-riding objective of Malta Employers is to ensure that the resulting actions are fair, balanced, and designed to minimise any negative impact on business competitiveness.
Malta Employers looks forward to contributing constructively in this ongoing process through continued dialogue and technical input.