MP Proposes Mandatory Gender Balance for Public Appointments

MP Calls for Gender Balance in Third Party Appointments

Standing in the bustling Parliament Square, opposite the iconic St. George’s Square, Partit Laburista MP, Dr. Robert Abela, has proposed a significant tweak to the way third parties are appointed to public entities. His suggestion? A mandatory gender balance mechanism to ensure parity in decision-making bodies.

Malta’s Gender Gap in Public Appointments

Malta, while progressive in many ways, still grapples with a gender gap in public appointments. According to the latest data from the European Commission, women hold only 33% of seats on company boards and 27% of ministerial positions in Malta. Dr. Abela’s proposal seeks to address this imbalance by making gender balance a statutory requirement for third-party appointments.

How the Mechanism Would Work

Dr. Abela’s proposal, tabled in Parliament last week, suggests amending the Public Appointments Act to include a gender balance mechanism. This would mean that public entities would be required to ensure that at least 40% of their members are of one gender, and at least 40% of the other. The MP for San Ġwann believes this will not only promote gender equality but also bring diverse perspectives to decision-making tables.

“We’re not just doing this for the sake of it,” Dr. Abela told Hot Malta. “We believe that having a balanced representation of genders brings different viewpoints to the table, leading to better decision-making. It’s about time we walk the talk on gender equality in Malta.”

If passed, this amendment would apply to all public entities, including boards, councils, and committees appointed by the government. It’s a significant step towards achieving gender balance in Malta’s public sphere, with potential ripple effects on the private sector.