MCESD chairman slams Maltese ‘work mentality’

Chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development John Bencini has criticised the mentality and culture of Maltese workers.

“Foreigners are willing to work whenever their employers ask them to,” Bencini told Sunday newspaper ILLUM. “On the other hand, Maltese workers in hotels, bars and restaurants don’t want to work on Saturdays because they would want to go out, or because it would be the eve of a feast, or because of some other similar excuse.”

“We are worried that not enough Maltese workers are trained in the technical work that a lot of foreign investors look out for,” Bencini said. “This means that they have to bring in foreigners to work in Malta.”

The council is composed of workers’ unions, employers’ unions, civil society members, the Gozo Regional Committee and the Government represented by Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli.

“The MCESD advises Parliament and allows workers’ unions and employers’ unions to hash out their differences and understand each other’s side of the story,” Bencini said. “Ex-minister Austin Gatt had described us as a ‘talking shop’. We reject that categorically.”

“Since the council was formed back in 2001, industrial problems in Malta have decreased dramatically.”

Read the full interview in Sunday’s edition of ILLUM