Employers ‘concerned’ by potential effect of marijuana legalisation on the workplace

The Malta Employers Association called on the government to introduce 'a waiting day' which would make the first day of sick leave unpaid

The Malta Employers Association said it was concerned employees might smoke marijuana at work
The Malta Employers Association said it was concerned employees might smoke marijuana at work

The Malta Employers Association (MEA) has said it was concerned by the effect of legalising marijuana on the workplace, insisting that “should the legislation come to pass”, it expected “tangible measures” to protect it.

Among these measures, it said, was ensuring employers were able to dismiss any employee caught consuming the plant on the job, the right to conduct random drug tests, the right to implement policies that do not allow employees under the influence on their premises, as well as an obligation for employees to notify employers they are consuming marijuana.

“The side effects of smoking marijuana may also lead to an increase in sick leave – both directly because of the properties of the substance and also indirectly, due to increased absence because employees may opt to report sick to avoid reporting for work if they are still under the influence,” it said, adding that “this could prove costly to employers”.

The MEA said the upcoming budget was coming on the back of a general election, and at a time of strong economic growth, insisting that it acknowledged that improving living standards, for them to be in line with economic growth, was a priority, but that employers cannot be expected to take on the burden of resolving poverty.

“Given that some economic sectors operate within a much narrower competitive margin than others who can easily absorb an increase in operational costs,” said the MEA.

It warned that the implementation of pre-electoral promises should only be implemented following consultation with stakeholders, including the MEA.

Waiting day

The employers’ association said it was proposing that the first day of sick leave be unpaid in light of the increased incidence of sick leave, particularly “sporadic sick leave linked to weekends”.

COLA and pre-electoral pledges

Among its proposals were the implementation of an “advance increase in COLA which would be deducted in the next year”, as well as “compensatory measures” for employers as regards the implementation of the government’s pledge to return public holidays to employees.

Identity Malta and part-time work for third country nationals

The association also called for further streamlining and increased resources to Identity Malta, in order for it to be better able to deal with the increased demand for foreign workers and third country nationals.

“A number of them work for relatively low wages and may find it hard to make ends meet due to high cost of rent, leading them to leave the country,” it said, adding that working part-time would “incentivise them to stay and offer their services in Malta”.

Air Malta

On Air Malta, it called on government to implement a decisive strategy.

“Fundamentally, it cannot operate on the existing scale with the current size of the labour force. It can only retain its employees if it increases its business, and the best hope of achieving this is through a capital injection by domestic or foreign strategic partners,” it said.

“The catch 22 situation is that there is hardly any chance of attracting a strategic partner unless the labour force is scaled down to a more manageable level.”

Social Housing and the rental market

As regards social housing, the MEA said there should be a thorough exercise to “determine whether the current stock of social housing is being used for its intended purpose”.

The MEA also insisted that social housing rents should be revised according to family income while avoiding a situation where people are disincentivised from declaring a second income.

Finally, it said it was concerned with inflation in the rental market, which it said was leading to higher wage demands that aren’t reflected in productivity.

Transport and Traffic management

Government, said the MEA, should further incentivise the use of electric cars, prioritise the introduction of alternative public transport methods and introduce a traffic management plan as soon as possible.  

“Developments permits should also consider the impact on traffic flow and possible bottlenecks,” it added.

Family friendly measures

The MEA warned that the introduction of automatic entitlements would be disruptive to the private sector and that family friendly measures should be allowed to be implemented on a case-by-case basis.

Positions of trust

The employers said that it expected there to be a limit to the number of people engaged on a position of trust basis with the government, stressing that such appointments should not be “the result of political favours”.

Moreover, it stressed the need for full public disclosure of contracts and other details relating to their engagement, barring MPs from holding such positions, as well as approving key positions in authorities by a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

The MEA also called on government to, increase its focus on the education and training, increase the number of measures aimed at SMEs and microbusinesses and to lower commercial energy rates.