The Green Party (AD) has welcomed the PL’s endorsement of the proposals of both AD and UHM for free child care centres.

AD Chairperson Michael Briguglio said: “Child care services should be universally accessible and in collaboration with the private sector. He said that "the government should provide free services to those who need them in addition to more opportunities for teleworking, flexitime upon workers' choice and other family-friendly measures".

He proposed that these should be coupled with other progressive measures such as an increase in minimum wage and an increase in disability pension.

He also called for an increase in parental leave to 20 weeks with the other partner benefitting from 2 weeks as proposed within the EU. He added, with regard to this last measure, that “the government should create a joint fund with the private sector to assist small and medium businesses in the implementation of this measure".

"Gender equality mainstreaming should take place at all levels of society, including all levels of government and in the private sector. Malta is often the last among EU Member States when it comes to gender equality," he concluded.