EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN  [ CAP. 456.  1
CHAPTER 456
EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN ACT
To promote equality for men and women.
9th December, 2003
ACT I of 2003.
Short title.
Women Act.
Interpretation.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner for the promotion of
equality appointed under article 11, and Commission means the
Commission established under the said article;
"discrimination" means discrimination based on sex or because
of family responsibilities and includes the treatment of a person in
a less favourable manner than other person has been or would be
treated on the grounds of sex or because of family responsibilities
and "discriminate" shall be construed accordingly;
"employment" means any gainful activity including self-
employment and includes promotion and transfer to another post,
as well as access to vocational or professional training, the duration
of the employment or its extension or termination;
"Minister" means the Minister responsible for equality;
"sexual harassment" means the unlawful activities listed in
article 9(1);
"vocational training" includes all forms of vocational training
and retraining.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, and unless the context
otherwise requires, the terms "man" and "woman" include males
and females irrespective of their age.
(3) For the purposes of subarticle (1) discrimination based on
sex or because of family responsibilities is:
( a ) the giving of less favourable treatment, directly or
indirectly, to men and women on the basis of their sex
or because of family responsibilities;
( b ) treating a woman less favourably for reasons of actual
or potential pregnancy or childbirth;
( c ) treating men and women less favourably on the basis
of parenthood, family responsibility or for some other
reason related to sex;
( d ) any treatment based on a provision, criterion or
practice which disadvantages a substantially higher
proportion of members of one sex unless that
provision, criterion or practice is appropriate and
necessary and can be justified by objective factors
2 [ CAP. 456. EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN 
unrelated to sex.
(4) Nothing in subarticle (2) shall be deemed to constitute
discrimination in so far as such treatment -
( a ) is given to grant special protection to women during
childbirth or pregnancy;
( b ) constitutes measures of positive action for the purpose
of achieving substantive equality for men and women.
(5) In relation to access to employment, a less favourable
treatment which is based on a characteristic related to sex shall not
constitute discrimination where by reason of the particular
occupational activities concerned, or of the context in which they
are carried out, such a characteristic constitutes a genuine
occupational requirement and where such treatment remains within
the limits of what is appropriate and necessary in the
circumstances:
Provided that the burden of proof shall lie on the person
who alleges that there is a genuine occupational requirement.
Scope of this Act. 3. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting any rule
relating to religious practice, access to priesthood or membership in
any religious order or other religious communities.
Discrimination in 
employment.
4. (1) It shall be unlawful for employers to discriminate,
directly or indirectly, against a person in the arrangements made to
determine or in determining who should be offered employment or
in the terms and conditions on which the employment is offered or
in the determination of who should be dismissed from employment.
Cap. 452.
(2) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 26 of the
Employment and Industrial Relations Act, employers shall also be
deemed to have discriminated against a person if such employers -
( a ) manage the work, give promotions, distribute tasks,
offer training opportunities or otherwise arrange the
working conditions in a manner that employees are
assigned a less favourable status than others on the
basis of sex or because of family responsibilities; or
( b ) alter the working conditions, or the terms of
employment of employees to the detriment of such
employees after such employees have invoked any
right accorded to him under this Act or claimed the
performance in his favour of any obligation or duty
under this Act; or
( c ) neglect their obligation to suppress sexual harassment
as provided under article 9(2).
Report on 
employment 
procedures.
5. (1) It shall be the duty of employers upon the request of
any person claiming to have been sexually harassed or
discriminated against, or upon a request made by the Commissioner
acting upon a complaint or otherwise, to provide such person or the
Commissioner, as the case may be, within ten working days of such
a request with a report on the allegation made or the procedures
used by the employers in the matter alleged to constitute such
EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN  [ CAP. 456.  3
sexual harassment or discrimination.
(2) The employers shall be entitled to claim from the person
requesting the report, reimbursement of such reasonable expenses
incurred in drawing up and making the report:
Provided that such expenses may be recovered from the
person responsible for such sexual harassment or discrimination if
it is found that such sexual harassment or discrimination did in fact
take place.
Banks and 
financial 
institutions.
6. (1) No bank or financial institution or insurance company
shall discriminate against any person in the grant of any facility in
respect of the establishment, equipment or in the launching or
extension of any business or the launching or extension of any form
of self employment or the insurance of that business or the person
in self employment.
(2) Nothing in subarticle (1) shall be deemed to constitute
discrimination in so far as the conditions under which the facility or
the insurance cover is offered or withheld reflect genuine
considerations based on the financial risk in the grant of such
facilities or of such insurance cover.
Participation of 
spouses in the 
activities of a self 
employed partner.
7. (1) Spouses of self employed workers not being employees
or partners, who participate in the activities of the self employed
workers and perform the same or ancillary tasks as their spouse
shall be entitled to receive from their spouse a fair compensation
for their activity commensurate to the value of their contribution.
(2) The provisions of subarticle (1) shall not apply where the
system of community of acquests or community of the residue
under separate administration subsists between the spouses.
Education and 
vocational 
guidance.
8. (1) It shall be unlawful for any educational establishment
or for any other entity providing vocational training or guidance to
discriminate against any person in -
( a ) the access to any course, vocational training or
guidance; or
( b ) the award of educational support for students or
trainees; or
( c ) in the selection and implementation of the curricula; or
( d ) in the assessment of the skills or knowledge of the
students or trainees.
(2) Failure by the persons responsible for such establishments
and entities to fulfil their obligation to suppress sexual harassment
as provided under article 9(2) shall for the purposes of subarticle
(1) of this article constitute discrimination.
(3) It shall be the duty of educational establishments and
entities providing vocational training, within the limits of their
competence to ensure that curricula and textbooks do not propagate
discrimination.
4 [ CAP. 456. EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN 
Sexual harassment.
Cap. 452.
9. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 29 of the
Employment and Industrial Relations Act, it shall be unlawful for
any person to sexually harass other persons, that is to say:
( a ) to subject other persons to an act of physical intimacy;
or
( b ) to request sexual favours from other persons; or
( c ) to subject other persons to any act or conduct with
sexual connotations, including spoken words, gestures
or the production, display or circulation of any written
words, pictures or other material, where the act, words
or conduct is unwelcome to the persons to whom they
are directed and could reasonably be regarded as
offensive, humiliating or intimidating to the persons to
whom they are directed; or
( d ) the persons so subjected or requested are treated less
favourably by reason of such persons’ rejection of or
submission to such subjection or request, it could
reasonably be anticipated that such persons would be
so treated.
(2) ( a ) Persons responsible for any work place, educational
establishment or entity providing vocational training or
guidance or for any establishment at which goods,
services or accommodation facilities are offered to the
public, shall not permit other persons who have a right
to be present in, or to avail themselves of any facility,
goods or service provided at that place, to suffer sexual
harassment at that place.
( b ) It shall be a defence for persons responsible as
aforesaid to prove that they took such steps as are
reasonably practicable to prevent such sexual
harassment.
(3) Persons who sexually harass other persons shall be guilty of
an offence against this article and shall, without prejudice to any
greater liability under any other law, be liable on conviction to a
fine ( multa ) of not more than one thousand liri or to imprisonment
of not more than six months or to both such fine and imprisonment.
Discriminatory 
advertisement.
Cap. 452.
10. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 26 of the
Employment and Industrial Relations Act, it shall be unlawful for
persons to publish or display or cause to be published or displayed
any advertisement, or, otherwise to advertise a vacancy for
employment which discriminates between job seekers or to request
from job seekers information concerning their private life or family
plans:
Provided that the provisions of this subarticle shall not
apply in such cases where employers prove that the work in
connection with the situation advertised can only be performed by a
person of a specific sex.
(2) It shall not be lawful for persons to publish or display or
cause to be published or displayed any advertisement which
promotes discrimination or which otherwise discriminate.
EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN  [ CAP. 456.  5
(3) Persons who act in breach of subarticle (1) or (2) shall be
guilty of an offence against this article and shall, on conviction, be
liable to the penalties established for contraventions.
(4) For the purposes of subarticle (1), advertising includes
disseminating information about the vacancy by word of mouth
from person to person.
National 
Commission for 
the Promotion of 
Equality for Men 
and Women.
11. (1) The Prime Minister shall upon the advice of the
Minister appoint a Commission to be called the National
Commission for the Promotion of Equality for Men and Women
(hereinafter referred to as "the Commission") composed of a
chairperson who shall be called the Commissioner for the
Promotion of Equality (hereinafter referred to as "the
Commissioner") and six other members, at least three of whom
shall be women.
(2) All the members of the Commission shall be appointed by
the Prime Minister from among such persons appearing to him to
be best suited to deal with issues of equality for men and women,
and, or, administrative issues connected therewith.
(3) Every member of the Commission shall hold office for a
term of two years and may be re-appointed at the end of their term
of office.
(4) The Prime Minister may terminate the appointment of
members of the Commission if he is satisfied that:
( a ) without the consent of the Commission the members
failed to attend the meetings of the Commission during
a continuous period of six months;
( b ) the members are undischarged bankrupt persons, or
have made an arrangement with their creditors, or are
insolvent or have been found guilty of any voluntary
crime against the person; or
( c ) the members are incapable of carrying out their duties.
(5) The quorum of the Commission shall be of four members,
one of whom shall be the Commissioner.
(6) The validity of any proceedings of the Commission shall
not be affected by any vacancy among the members of the
Commission or by any defect in the appointment of any member.
(7) Decisions of the Commission shall be taken by the majority
of the votes of the members present. The Commissioner shall also
have a casting vote.
(8) Subject to the provisions of this Act and of any regulation
made thereunder, the Commission may appoint sub-committees
and, in general, shall regulate its own proceedings.
Functions and 
status of 
Commissioner and 
of Commission.
12. (1) The Commissioner, with the assistance of the
Commission, shall have the following functions, that is to say:
( a ) to identify, establish and update all policies directly or
indirectly related to issues of equality for men and
women;
6 [ CAP. 456. EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN 
( b ) to identify the needs of persons who are disadvantaged
by reasons of their sex and to take such steps within its
power and to propose appropriate measures in order to
cater for such needs in the widest manner possible;
( c ) to monitor the implementation of national policies
with respect to the promotion of equality for men and
women;
( d ) to liaise between, and ensure the necessary co-
ordination between, government departments and
other agencies in the implementation of measures,
services or initiatives proposed by Government or the
Commission from time to time;
( e ) to keep direct and continuous contact with local and
foreign bodies working in the field of equality issues,
and with other groups, agencies or individuals as the
need arises;
( f ) to work towards the elimination of discrimination
between men and women;
( g ) to carry out general investigations with a view to
determine whether the provisions of this Act are being
complied with;
( h ) to investigate complaints of a more particular or
individual character to determine whether the
provisions of this Act are being contravened with
respect to the complainant and, where deemed
appropriate, to mediate with regard to such
complaints;
( i ) to inquire into and advise or make determinations on
any matter relating to equality between men and
women as may be referred to it by the Minister;
( j ) to provide assistance, where and as appropriate, to
persons suffering from discrimination in enforcing
their rights under this Act;
( k ) to keep under review the working of this Act, and
where deemed required, at the request of the Minister
or otherwise, submit proposals for its amendment or
substitution;
( l ) to perform such other function as may be assigned by
this or any other Act or such other functions as may be
assigned by the Minister.
(2) On the appointment by the Prime Minister of the first
members, the Commission shall have a legal personality separate
from that of the Government and its judicial representation shall
vest in the Commissioner:
Provided that the Commission may appoint any one or more
of its members or any other person, to appear in its name and on its
behalf in any judicial proceedings, and on any act, contract,
agreement or document whatsoever.
EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN  [ CAP. 456.  7
Personnel of the 
Commission.
13. (1) The Commission shall be administered by an
Executive Director who shall act in accordance with such policies
established by the Commission and such instructions as may be
given to him by the Commissioner.
(2) The Executive Director shall hold office under such terms
and conditions as the Commissioner, with the concurrence of the
Minister, may establish. Where the Executive Director is a public
officer seconded from the Government, such person shall have the
right on the termination of the secondment to revert to the former
post without loss of rank or seniority.
(3) The Commission may, after consultations with the Minister
and subject to the approval of such Minister as to their number,
remuneration and terms and conditions of service, appoint such
officers as it deems fit.
Detailing of public 
officers.
(4) The Prime Minister may, at the request of the Commission,
from time to time direct that any public officers shall be detailed
for duty with the Commission in such capacity and with effect from
such date as may be specified in the direction.
(5) The period during which a direction as aforesaid shall apply
to any officers specified therein, shall unless the officers retire
from the public service, or otherwise cease to be public officers at
an earlier date, and on the date specified in the direction or on the
happening of any of the following events, that is to say -
( a ) the acceptance by such public officers of an offer of
permanent employment with the Commission; or
( b ) the revocation by the Prime Minister of any direction
made by him under this article in relation to such
officers.
(6) Where a public officer is detailed for duty with the
Commission under this article, such officer shall, during the time
the direction has effect in relation to him, be under the
administrative authority and control of the Commission, but shall
for all other intents and purposes remain and be considered and
treated as a public officer and without prejudice to the generality of
the aforesaid such public officer:
( a ) shall not during the time while he was so detailed -\
(i) be precluded from applying for transfer to a
department of the Government in accordance
with the terms and conditions of service attached
to the appointment under the Government held
by the officer at the date on which such officer
was detailed for duty; or
(ii) be so employed that his remuneration and
conditions of service are less favourable than
those which are attached to the appointment
under the Government held by such officer at the
date the officer was so detailed or which would
have become attached during the said period had
such officer not been so detailed; and
8 [ CAP. 456. EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN 
Cap. 93.
Cap. 58.
( b ) shall be entitled to have the service with the
Commission considered as service with the
Government for the purpose of any pension, gratuity
or benefit under the Pensions Ordinance and the
Widows and Orphans’ Pension Act; and
( c ) any application made under paragraph ( a )(i) shall be
given the same consideration as if the applicant had
not been so detailed.
(7) The Commission shall pay to the Government such
contributions as may from time to time be determined by the
Minister responsible for finance in respect of the cost of pensions
and gratuities earned by an officer detailed for duty with the
Commission during the period in which the officer was so detailed.
Funding of the 
Commission.
14. (1) The Commission shall be funded out of funds
allocated to it by the Minister out of funds voted by Parliament for
activities under the Ministry or out of funds that may be donated or
allocated to it from other sources in Malta or abroad.
(2) At least two months prior to the end of its financial year the
Commission shall submit to the Minister, a business plan
(including a financial plan) covering the proposed activities of the
Commission during the following financial year. When approved
by the Minister and by the Minister responsible for finance, such
business plan, shall be the approved budget of the Commission.
Accounts. (3) The Commission shall keep proper accounts of its income
and expenditure and shall prepare and send to the Minister
statements of accounts in relation to each of its financial years.
Audit. (4) The accounts of the Commission shall be audited by an
auditor or auditors appointed by it with the approval of the
Minister:
Provided that the Minister responsible for finance may
require the books and records of the Commission to be audited or
examined by the Auditor General who for the purpose shall have
power to carry out such physical checking or other verifications,
and may demand and acquire such information, as may be
necessary.
(5) The financial year of the Commission shall commence on
the 1st January and shall end on the 31st December of each year:
Provided that the first financial year of the Commission
shall begin on the coming into force of this Act and end on the 31st
December of the next following year.
Annual report. 15. (1) As soon as practicable after the end of every calendar
year, but in any case not later than the 31st day of March of the
following year, the Commission may submit to the Minister a
report of its activities during the year (such report hereinafter in
this section referred to as an "annual report").
(2) Each annual report shall include a general report of
developments during the period to which it relates in respect of
matters falling within the functions of the Commission and shall
also include a report on the activities, initiatives, investigations and
EQUALITY FOR MEN AND WOMEN  [ CAP. 456.  9
initiatives undertaken to suppress discrimination and to promote
equality for men and women.
(3) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable but in any case
not later than two months after its submission to him by the
Commission, cause a copy of the annual report together with a copy
of the then current business and financial plan of the Commission
to be laid on the Table of the House.
Exemption from 
Income Tax.
Cap. 123.
16. The Commission shall be exempt from any liability to pay
tax, in respect of its income, under the Income Tax Act.
Complaints and 
investigation.
17. (1) The Commissioner may initiate investigations on any
matter involving an act or omission that is allegedly unlawful under
the provisions of this Act.
(2) The Commissioner may also initiate investigations on the
receipt of a complaint in writing by persons who claim to be the
victims of an act or omission contrary to the provisions of this Act.
(3) If it appears to the Commissioner that persons who wish to
make a complaint under subarticle (2) require assistance to
formulate the complaint, the Commissioner shall take or order the
taking of such reasonable steps as may be necessary to assist such
persons in making the complaint.
Action by the 
Commissioner 
following an 
investigation.
18. (1) After carrying out an investigation the Commissioner
may -
( a ) dismiss the complaint, or
( b ) find that the complaint is proved and thereupon, shall:
(i) where the action complained of constitutes an
offence, make a report to the Commissioner of
Police for action on his part; or
(ii) where the action complained of does not
constitute an offence, call upon the person
against whom the complaint is directed to
redress the situation, and mediate between the
complainant and such person to settle the matter.
(2) The findings of the Commissioner under subarticle (1) shall
not be binding on the complainant and the person against whom the
complaint is directed unless they expressly declare in writing to be
so bound.
(3) In respect of general investigations or of investigations
upon complaints by the Commissioner, the Minister may prescribe:
( a ) the procedure whereby the Commissioner may require
any person to furnish such information as may be
necessary for the investigation, as well as the time
within which and the manner in which such
information is to be furnished;
( b ) the procedures to be followed where a person fails to
supply such information, the circumstances in which
following an investigation as aforesaid, the
Commission may itself take legal action.
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(4) Regulations under subarticle (3) may provide, in the case of
an alleged discrimination by one person against another, the
arrangements whereby the Commission may itself refer the matter
to the competent civil court or to the Industrial Tribunal for
redress:
Provided that nothing in this subarticle shall prevent any
person having a legal interest from himself taking action for redress
or where action has been taken by the Commission, from joining in
and becoming a party to the suit.
(5) The Commissioner and every other member of the
Commission or any member of the staff of the Commission shall
treat any matter coming to their knowledge in the course of an
investigation as confidential and shall not disclose the same unless
such disclosure is necessary in the course of a prosecution or an
action for redress under this Act.
Civil proceedings.
Cap. 452.
19. (1) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 30 of the
Employment and Industrial Relations Act, a person who alleges
that any other person has committed in his or her regard any act
which under any of the provisions of this Act is unlawful, shall
have a right of action before the competent court of civil
jurisdiction requesting the court to order the defendant to desist
from such unlawful acts and, where applicable, to order the
payment of compensation for such damage suffered through such
unlawful act.
(2) In any proceedings under subarticle (1) it shall be sufficient
for the plaintiff to prove that he or she has been treated less
favourably on the basis of sex or because of family responsibilities
and it shall be incumbent on the defendant to prove that such less
favourable treatment was justified in accordance with the
provisions of this Act.
Power to make 
regulations.
20. The Minister may make regulations generally for giving
effect to the provisions of this Act, and the enforcement thereof,
and in particular, but without prejudice to the generality of the
foregoing:
( a ) for providing for any matter which is required or
authorised by the Act to be prescribed; and
( b ) for providing for any matter relating to equality
between men and women; and
( c ) for the exemption of any person, or class of persons or
body, from the requirements of article 4(1) in so far as
it relates to article 4(1)( a ) and ( b ), article 5 and article
10 as may be specified in the aforesaid regulations;
provided that any such exemption shall only be
prescribed by the Minister after consultation with the
Commission and provided that such exemption shall
be for a specified period of time which can be renewed
by the Minister after consultation with the
Commission.
