Malta told to regulate job hours in its non-existent inland waterways sector

The European Commission has launched infringement procedures against Malta for failing to transpose a directive regulating working time in its inland waterways transport sector – a sector which is non-existent on the small island.

The Commission sent letters of formal notice to Greece, Cyprus and Malta on Thursday, calling on them to transpose the Directive on working time in inland waterways transport.

The Directive regulates certain aspects of working time for workers employed onboard vessels in navigable rivers, lakes and canals.

In a press release, the Commission acknowledged that not all member states have inland waterways on its territory.

Regardless, the Commission said a uniform transposition of the directive is important to ensure that individual employment contracts of such workers are in full conformity with the provisions of the Directive.  

The three Mediterranean countries have two months to notify the Commission of their national measures. If the countries fail to provide a satisfactory response, the Commission could send a reasoned opinion.