Muscat pledges support to De La Rue workers • Sees 'no reason' to lift Schengen ban as yet

Government will help workers to be laid off by securities company De La Rue to find an alternative job, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has pledged.

Interviewed by Hu Siggu host Anthony David Gatt on ONE, Muscat said the government had been communicating with De La Rue to ensure that the company’s restructuring takes place with minimal impact.

Workers have been informed that the company will be laying off 300 employees by 2018 after deciding to phase out the printing of banknotes in Malta.

The company – the world’s largest commercial banknote printer and passport manufacturer – will be downsizing its operations in Malta in its efforts to make its global operations more profitable.

MaltaToday understands that the restructuring process will see the security printer terminate the job of 300 workers out of the 550 currently employed.

The company yesterday announced that it will relocate its current security products capability from Gateshead in the UK to Malta.

De La Rue also announced a €21 million investment that will ensure the sustainability of a large number of jobs in the growing Identity and Security Products business.

“We will facilitate the company’s investment whilst ensuring that those workers who will be made redundant will find an alternative place of work,” Muscat said, as he went on to remind that Malta currently recorded the lowest unemployment rate ever.

The Prime Minister said he was “a salesman” not only to increase employment but to ensure that the country can face challenges that crop up.

He added that the company did not cease its operations because of the country’s strong economy.

The Valletta Summit

Muscat said the government was still calculating the impact the Valletta Summit and the CHOGM had on the country, not only in terms of expenses but also the input to the economy.

“More importantly is the visibility our country gained,” he said.

Muscat said that there were “almost no cars left to be rented” during the past two weeks. He spoke of the national pride felt when foreign leaders praised the organization of the summits.

“I want people to automatically associate us with world-class organisations. Malta should be automatically equated with excellence.”

The Prime Minister spoke of the pressure faced to pull the plug following the Paris attacks: “These days were among the most difficult for me because of the security responsibility on my shoulders. But the buck stops with me. I am proud for taking the decision to go ahead, although it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our team.”

Muscat said the Armed Forces of Malta, with the backup of the UK forces, were largely praised for their work.

The Paris Attacks

The Paris Attacks, Muscat said, had the same global weight that the 9/11 attacks had.

“It was a game changer because suddenly we had European citizens carrying a deadly terror attack.”

He reiterated how important it was to temporary suspend the Schengen regulations, as a preventive measure. He denied the decision to retain the suspension till the end of year was to be in synch with the popular sentiment.

“It is how we uncovered individuals travelling with fake passports and how we uncovered a racket.”

Muscat explained that the racket had involved the supply of the passports and the procurement of low-cost airline tickets. Those who reach Malta would apply for asylum. The government was now also trying to find out why these individuals hadn’t applied for asylum in Italy.

“My wish is to lift the suspension as early as possible but we need to take preventive measures,” he said, insisting that there was no intelligence pointing to some sort of threat for Malta.

"I see no reason to lift it as yet."

Malta’s neutrality

Malta’s neutrality clause does not stand in the way of the global fight against terrorism, Muscat said.

“Malta cannot be neutral when it’s between the civilized world and terrorism because we are always against terrorism. We cannot be neutral on such an issue,” he said.

However, he added, the neutrality clause plays a part in the case that something, for example, happens between Russia and Turkey.

“The importance of our neutrality is that we can bring them together. And I imagine you asking how can Malta be the one to do it … why not? Being neutral means that both sides knows that we side with no one. Turkey and Russia are important EU partners and our work is to be the voice of common sense.”