Legal developments
Parental leave – smart-working
With the closure of all schools and child-care centres during the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents were forced to stay at home in order to look after their children. The Government set up a Parent Benefit for parents employed in the private sector of Malta, with children under 16 years of age, who were not able to work from home and who due to the impact of COVID-19, after 8 March 2020 could not go to work to take care of their children
Segregation of Roma children in primary education
Access of children with disability to education
Measures taken in the context of COVID-19 have affected vulnerable groups in a particularly negative way
On 30 April 2020, the Polish Parliament passed legislation amending the Code of Civil Procedure and some other acts, providing for the possibility of the police issuing an order for the perpetrator of violence to leave the premises occupied together with the victim, without the need to initiate criminal proceedings
Restriction on the exercise of rights
Liechtenstein Government decided to sign the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on 26 May 2020
The Constitutional Court repealed the new Anti-Discrimination Law
Current situation regarding exclusion and discrimination of persons living in marginalised Roma communities
Implementation of policies and measures concerning the equality and inclusion of Roma living in marginalised communities
Caring benefits more generous during COVID 19 quarantine
As of 18 March, fathers can not be present during delivery of their children
The legality of the conditions of eviction of illegal camp occupied by a Roma family
Discrimination against tenants on the basis of their actual or perceived nationality
Monitoring of discrimination cases concerning public and private sector on behalf of the competent Equality Body
Significant increase of domestic violence against women during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Survivor’s right to tell the story v. perpetrator’s honour and dignity
Female salaried lawyers not entitled to adequate maternity allowance in breach of Article 11(2)(b) Directive 92/85/EEC due to the non-adoption of the Single Benefits Regulation by the general social security scheme ‘EFKA’ since 01.01.2017
Relocation of the Office of the Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Treatment within the governmental administrative structure: from the Chancellery of the Prime Minister to the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy
Among anti-COVID-19 measures, the government introduced recommended and mandatory time slots for grocery shopping for persons defined by age and disability
Whether the contents and implementation of equal opportunity plans adopted by certain employers can be examined and assessed by the Equal Treatment Authority
Time-limit for filing complaints with the Equal Treatment Authority in the case of continuing violations starts when the violation ends
In the context of the state of emergency the Government extends the mandate of the NCCD Steering Board members by means of Emergency Ordinance
Concept of discrimination and personal autonomy
Implementation of policies and measures concerning persons living in marginalised Roma communities and other vulnerable groups in the context of current spread of COVID-19