AD welcomes amendments to self-employed legislation

Alternattiva Demokratika has welcomed amendments to labour legislation (EIRA) which will give more protection to workers who were often constrained to register as self-employed.

AD's spokesperson on social policy Angele Deguara said that it welcomed government's decision to put in place the new legal amendments.

"These were needed to protect certain workers who did not have the necessary protection by the law as it stood, often leading to the creation of precarious working conditions," Deguara said.  

As it stood, the law permitted employers to recruit workers for long-term services not as employees but on a self-employed basis. Workers were constrained to register as self-employed even if they worked for the same employer on a regular basis, using tools provided by the employer and unable to determine their working hours themselves.  

With the new amendments, workers who satisfy five out of eight outlined criteria would have to be engaged on a full-time indefinite contract rather than forced to register as self-employed.  

"AD has drawn the attention of the authorities to this anomaly more than once. It welcomes these changes as a positive step in the fight against precariousness and worker exploitation," Deguara said, adding that it appreciated the work done by the General Workers Union who had pushed forward for the amendments.

Commenting on the reform, AD chairperson Michael Briguglio said it was a positive development in the

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson and spokesperson for Economy and

Finance, said: "This legal reform is a positive development in the struggle against precarious employment. AD fully supports calls by progressive unions and NGOs against exploitation of workers. AD's manifesto will be containing various other proposals in this regard."