A discussion on the Right to Disconnect was launched on Friday by the parliamentary secretary for Social Dialogue, with plans of opening a public consultation on the topic in the coming months.
The right to disconnect allows workers to cut off from work-related activities during out-of-office hours, giving them the right not to respond to emails or phone calls in the evenings or weekends, for instance.
The initiative was announced by Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul, who said the national discussion was the starting point for Malta to find a model that makes sense for its own context.
The discussion, he said, will lead to a public consultation where the government can listen directly to workers, employers, social partners and families, so it can understand the best way for workers to disconnect from work after their working hours and spend quality time with their families.
In 2020, then Minister Carmelo Abela told a General Workers’ Union meeting that the government was considering making the right to disconnect legally enforceable.
At the time, the proposal had met strong objections from the Malta Employers Association.
During the press conference, Ellul said the launch is the starting point for Malta to identify a model that fits its own realities.
“The challenge before us today is not whether we should recognise the Right to Disconnect, which will soon be covered by the European legislation, but rather which model we will adopt in order to achieve a balance that makes sense for our country,” he said.
Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg and Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul. Photo: DOIEllul also announced he would be asking the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) to discuss the topic in the coming days.
He said Malta has the potential to once again be a leader in shaping workplace policy and said he hopes the national discussion on work-life balance and family-friendly measures will unfold in the coming months.
On her end, Parliamentary Secretary for Equality and Reforms Rebecca Buttigieg said Friday’s conference served as an opportunity to discuss the importance of the Right to Disconnect with Malta’s social partners.
“In Malta, we have long been speaking about the need for a better balance between work and family life, and now this discussion is at the top of the national agenda, driven by growing awareness of its importance,” she said.
“As a modern and European country, I believe Malta should follow and the European Parliament’s resolution on this right, as well as with various EU directives and laws which, although they do not refer directly to the Right to Disconnect, are all intended to safeguard workers’ health and safety, as well as their right to a balance between work and family life.”