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NCW Resolution: Health and Safety at Work
NCW aware that health and safety at work should be seen as a key factor for economic growth and productivity. It involves not just businesses and workers but society as a whole.
NCW Resolution: Legal framework for temporary workers
NCW aware that a new Directive has been recently adopted at an EU level with the specific objective of regulating the employment conditions of temporary workers,
UN Women
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously decided to establish UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
Self-employed workers to gain maternity and pension benefits under new EU law
Self-employed workers and their partners will enjoy better social protection – including the right to maternity leave for the first time – under new legislation endorsed by EU governments today.
More women in top jobs key to economic growth, says EU report
Only one in 10 board members of Europe's biggest listed companies is a woman and all central bank governors in the EU are male.
Tackling the gender pay gap – Frequently Asked Questions
Why do we need to tackle the gender pay gap? At 18% across Europe, the gender pay gap remains intolerably high and stubborn. Equal pay for equal work is one of the European Union’s founding principles.
EU Commission Statement for Women's Day 2010
Ahead of International Women's Day, the European Commission strengthened and deepened its commitment to equality between women and men with a Women's Charter.
Vice-President Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship - Gen
European Commission plans to use a series of measures aimed at significantly reducing the pay gap between men and women over the next five years.
Kunsill Nazzjonali tan-Nisa - Messagg ghal Jum il-Mara 2010
L-OMMIJIET LI JAHDMU M'GHANDHOMX IKUNU PENALIZZATI Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali tan-Nisa jsejjah lill-membri parlamentari ewropej kollha biex jivvutaw favor l-estensjoni tal-leave tal-maternita' u tal-leave ghall-genituri li se tkun ipprezentata fil-Parlament Ewropew fl-24 u l-25 ta' Marzu wara li fl-ahhar ta' Dicembru il-vot ma ittehidx konsegwenza ta' kontroversja bejn il-gruppi politici
Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers
Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers agreed by EU ministersEuropean Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Parents will have the right to longer parental leave, under new rules agreed by EU ministers today.
Neqirdu il-pjaga tal-Vjolenza Domestika – Kulhadd ghandu sehem x’jaghti
Il-Vjolenza domestika sew psikologika, emozzjonali jew fizika tmur kontra d-dritt fundamental tal-bniedem ghall-hajja u dritt ta’ sikurezza b’mod partikolari fil-familja, l-ambjent l-aktar essenzjali ghall-hajja decenti.
4th Congress of the Small States of Europe
4th CONGRESS OF THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPE The Role of Gender Equality in the Small States of Europe The National Council of Women of Malta hosted the 4th UNESCO Congress for Women Organisations from the Eight Small States of Europe from the 24 to 27 September 2009 at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.
SMEs: A favourable business environment: supporting enterprise and job creation
'Think Small First': A Small Business Act for Europe At a time when there is a global financial and economic crisis, it is companies, in particular SMEs that are the most sensitive and at the same time the most important elements in terms of job creation and recovery capacity. SMEs are a crucial part of our economy and a major source of employment, entrepreneurial skills and innovation
Future Skills for Future Jobs
Anticipating labour market and skills needs The need to address Labour Market Skills Issues at European level Europe, potentially, faces a major skills problem in the near future. Over 20 million new jobs are expected to be created between 2006 and 2020. Another 85 million jobs will be available to replace people who retire or leave the labour market for other reasons.
Breast Screening – a lifeline for women
The National Council of Women welcomes the long awaited breast screening programme that the Council has been pushing for in line with WHO requirements for many years
Date: 17/12/2009
 

Longer parental leave and incentives for fathers agreed by EU ministersEuropean Commission, Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Parents will have the right to longer parental leave, under new rules agreed by EU ministers today. The revised Directive on Parental Leave will give each working parent the right to at least four months leave after the birth or adoption of a child (up from three months now). At least one of the four months cannot be transferred to the other parent – meaning it will be lost if not taken – offering incentives to fathers to take the leave. The new Directive also provides for better protection against discrimination and a smoother return to work. It puts into effect an agreement between European employers and trade union organisations. The main changes in the new Directive are:
 • Longer leave – each parent will be able to take four months off per child (previously three months). The extra month cannot be transferred from one parent to the other, thereby encouraging fathers to take their leave. In the past many working fathers have transferred their right to leave to the mother.  • No discrimination – an employee applying for or taking parental leave will be protected from any less favourable treatment for doing so.  • Temporary changes to work schedules – employees returning from parental leave will have the right to request changes to their working hours for a limited period. In considering such requests, employers will be obliged to balance the needs of the employee as well as the company.  • Parents of adopted children and children with a disability or long-term illness – governments and employers/unions will be obliged to assess the specific needs of such parents.  • Work contracts – the new rights will apply to all workers, regardless of their type of contract (e.g. fixed-term, part-time, agency workers); however the possibility of a qualification period of maximum one year is maintained.  • All matters regarding the income of workers during parental leave are left for Member States and/or national social partners to determine.
The Framework Agreement on parental leave, on which the Directive is based, was signed by the European social partners.  The new Directive will replace Directive 96/34/EC, which put into effect the 1995 social partner agreement and established for the first time minimum standards on parental leave at EU level. More than 15 years later, these rights for working parents have now been strengthened and clarified. After the political agreement by the Council today, 1 December 2009, the new Directive will be formally adopted in the coming months. Member States will then have two years to transpose the new rights into national law. Grace Attard  NCW President, EESC member
 
 
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