Gender bias in employment recruitment : a thing of the past?

Abstract

This dissertation, ‘Gender Bias in Employment Recruitment – A thing of the past?’, is an interdisciplinary, socio-legal research study. It will delve into both societal aspects and legislation matters, with the latter having a predominant nature. In this dissertation there will be an analysis of both the main legislative framework for employment in Malta, Chapter 452 of the Laws of Malta, meaning the Employment and Industrial Relations Act (EIRA), which will be given most importance. Following, there will also be an analysis of the Regulation of the European Parliament and of the council, laying down harmonised rules on Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act) and amending certain Union legislative Acts, proposed in 2021. Given its very recent nature, which provides originality, it fulfills any gaps found in literature and gives a clearer vision of gender bias in the future of recruitment. Firstly, an introduction to the dissertation will be given and why this is an important topic to research shall be discussed. Following will be a review of relevant literature which pertains to this topic as well as relevant case law, books, journal articles, and online articles. The third chapter will be an explanation of both the qualitative and quantitative methods and justification for the socio-legal method chosen to carry out the research. Following, one will find the substantive chapter, wherein there will be the analysis of both Chapter 452 and the proposal on AI, as well as the social and legislative findings which emerged whilst analysing them. Lastly, there will be some concluding remarks which provide an answer to this research question, and therefore what the employment recruitment future for females looks like and the protection that both these pieces of legislation provide, alongside society, as they are truly a reflection of one another.