New project to address issue of under-representation of Maltese women in senior positions

The under-representation of women on boards and at senior management levels is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately, according to Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli.

Speaking at the launching on Wednesday morning of an EU-funded project on gender balancing in decision-making, being implemented by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE), Dalli referred to a European Commission report which showed Malta has the lowest percentage of female board members in all the EU.

The report, 'Gender Balance in Boards', published last January, showed that women in Malta represented just 3.5 per cent of board members of the largest publicly listed companies in Malta. This is the lowest share in the EU, and a long way short of the EU average of 15.8 percent.

In view of this, the NCPE, as part of the project which it will be undertaking over the next two years, aim to develop a directory of Maltese and Gozitan professional women, which will include information about their qualifications, experience and skills. It will list women in different sectors, who may eventually be considered for boards, committees and other decision-making positions.

The project, part-funded by the EU's European Social Fund (ESF), will also entail two research studies: one focusing on gender-based representation in boardrooms and in political decision-making positions in Malta and Gozo; the other focusing on gender quotas in Malta, and people's perception of them.

Referring to gender quotas, including one imposed by the European Commission last year, which aims to make boards 40 per cent female by 2020, NCPE executive director Romina Bartolo said their introduction may lead to an increase in the participation of women in decision-making positions.

However, she continued, quotas alone will not be successful to empower more women to contest elections, be appointed to senior positions in the public and private sector, or to assume decision-making positions in the labour market or elsewhere.

Therefore, she said there is a need for measures and support structures to raise more awareness, and to facilitate a wider participation of people with caring responsibilities.

NCPE senior projects executive Annalise Aquilina outlined the activities which will be carried out in the project, which will also include a year-long mentoring programme for women who aspire to hold decision-making positions.

An information session for interested mentors and mentees will be held later this year.

Newly-appointed NCPE commissioner Renee Laiviera stated this project will contribute to the increase of women in decision-making roles, benefitting not only the women themselves, but also the country and its economy.