Tribunal to blacklist businesses breaching labour laws from public contracts

Companies breaching public procurement regulations or the Employment and Industrial Relations Act could be liable to being blacklisted for between six months and two years, with the coming into force of Legal Notice 68, published back on 6 March.

Since the legal notice was issued, a Commercial Sanctions Tribunal has been established within the Finance Ministry, with the competence to blacklist contractors at fault from participating in government public procurement.

"This measure, aimed at guaranteeing decent working conditions for all workers, preempts a European directive on public procurement which is yet to come into force. Employers who resort to precarious employment practices will find an unwavering response by the Government," finance minister Edward Scicluna.

The Tribunal is chaired by Denise Vella, with former Chamber of Commerce president Reggie Fava and former High Commissioner to the UK, Richard Matrenza as members.