Worker’s rights charter to be sent to every household

The Ministry for Social Dialogue will be distributing a worker’s rights charter in every household, giving families a simplified version of what are the rights and obligations at the place of work.

The government is also in the process of amending the employment legislation, which will be launched for consultation before the end of year.

Briefing the press, Minister Helena Dalli said that, many a times, disagreements between employers and employees arise from a lack of understanding or knowledge of their rights and duties.

“Simplifying the law helps increase harmony between two sides as well as making workers more assertive,” Dalli said.

The minister argued that working conditions had improved drastically, aided by a government committed against precarious employment and a booming economy.

In seven months, the Directorate for Industrial and Employment Relations carried out 50 inspections. The more common breaches surrounded the delivery of payments – not using a bank account – and payslips. By law, employers must now also start handing soft copies.

The charter, in Maltese and English, is a simplified version of the law focusing on the contract of service, probation, minimum wage, leave and sick leave, termination notice, among others.