Commissioner Dalli met Dr Byron Camilleri, Minister for Home Affairs, Security, Reforms and Equality and Ms Rebecca Buttigieg, Parliamentary Secretary for Reforms and Equality.
During the talks the Commissioner referred to this year’s ongoing Diversity Month. This Month is celebrated annually EU-wide since the start of the new Commission mandate and is dedicated to diversity and inclusion at the workplace. Commissioner Dalli called on Malta to join the Platform for European Diversity which was launched twelve years ago and today counts on national chapters in virtually all of the EU Member States.
Diversity Charters encourage organisations including public bodies, private companies and NGOs to develop and implement diversity and inclusion policies. By signing a charter, organisations voluntarily commit to promote diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace, regardless of age, disability, gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or sexual orientation. Where organisations are able to become signatories to a Diversity Charter they are able to acquire access to a vast peer network, publications and supporting tools for benchmarking, measuring and monitoring.
Commissioner Dalli said, “The EU draws strength from its diversity. Over the past 12 years we have witnessed how important these Charters have become and how much value they bring to European workplaces. We must harness all our talent through more diverse, inclusive, and equal workplaces and societies. Equality is not a finite resource. Inclusion makes everyone more welcome and able to fully contribute their insights and creativity.”
The Commissioner subsequently referred to ongoing legislative work, with a focus on the proposal for EU-wide law to combat violence against women and domestic violence, pay transparency, gender balance on company boards and the upcoming legislative proposal regarding equality bodies.
Commissioner Dalli said, “This legislation would bring tangible change for gender equality and women’s ability to thrive and lead in society. Our proposals aim at all-encompassing EU-wide minimum standards that ensure equality between women and men and help build the necessary structures for equality for all regardless of racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, age, disability or sexual orientation.
The proposal regarding equality bodies will elaborate the conditions for their independence and effectiveness.”
