Female labour in Malta : some attitudes to work among female employees of four textile firms

Abstract

The phenomenon of female labour came into being as a result of economic pressures that built up over the years in the area of work. Chapter 1 examines women work and participation in theory through an analysis as to why women work, the position of woman at work, the concept of participation and the main types of participation. The surveys undertaken in four textile firms of different characteristics as to size, management style, presence of trade unions and product constitute the practical side of the dissertation. Chapter 2, gives an idea of the four firms, explains the survey technique used and covers the descriptive side of the questionnaire, namely, the social background of the participants. Work situations vary in different firms. How this affects attitudes to work is explained in Chapter 3 which contains a rendering of related responses by participants and their managers. Areas covered include, among others trade unions management styles, views in respect of the various aspects of participation and worker aspirations. After a thorough evaluation of results, considered in Chapter 4, the conclusion is that it is worthwhile to start exchanging ideas in order to alter the image of woman at work in general and the female shop floor employee in particular. Social framework has to be free of prejudice and characterised by mutual trust between worker and manager.