NEWS | Wednesday, 09 July 2008

Malta worries EU social partners

Female employment, childcare services lacking

David Darmanin

A joint letter sent by EU social partners to Employment Commissioner Vladimir Spidla yesterday urged under-performing EU countries, Malta being the worst performing, to invest more in childcare. At an EU average of 57.2 per cent female participation in employment, social partners argued that “without greater efforts” the 60 per cent target set in Barcelona “will not be achieved by 2010”.
The social partners signing the letter, namely Business Europe, SMEs trade union UEAPME, industry union ETUC/CES and public sector companies union CEEP, based their stance on figures published by Eurostat on female participation in employment, which ranked Malta lowest at 34.9 per cent, 22.3 percentage points below average and 25.1 percentage points below target.
“In line with the Barcelona targets, a majority of Member States have invested more resources in the provision of childcare. However, despite some significant improvements in a number of them, the situation remains unsatisfactory in the majority of EU countries,” the letter read.
“In general terms, the assessments received from the national social partners express great concern about realising the Barcelona target by 2010 both in relation to the provision of childcare for 90 per cent of children between three years of age and the mandatory school age, as well as the provision of childcare of at least 33 per cent of children under three.”
Furthermore, the letter strongly urges public authorities to ensure that childcare is affordable for all parents.
“Parents want childcare that works for their particular employment and family circumstances and corresponds to their financial means. Legislation in the area of childcare should be demand-led, and the diversification of service providers should prevail in order to better respond to the various needs of families,” social partners said.
Ranking second worst performing country in female employment is Italy, at 46.6 per cent, followed by Greece at 47.4 per cent. Denmark on the other hand, ranks highest at 73.4 per cent, followed by Sweden at 70.7 per cent.

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