GWU accuses government of ‘illegal employment’

The GWU is asking Parliamentary Secretaries Clyde Puli and Chris Said and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech to intervene and withhold a tender that has been issued by Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport for the provision of Security Service at the Cottonera Sports Complex and the Tal Qroqq National Pool.

“The tender has been awarded to Executive Security Services for the rate of €5.58 per hour and €5.53 per hour inclusive of VAT,” GWU said in a statement.

“Once VAT is removed, the per hour rate does not allow the employment of Security Guards according to the national minimum wage with the minimum benefits of employment including leave, sick leave and statutory bonuses.”

The union claimed the company awarded with the contract is one of the Security Companies which allegedly “engages employees as self employed”.

The union said this is another example of government “sponsoring illegal or illicit employment practices.”

“Government is supposed to do much the opposite and promote better employment conditions and monitoring through its promised special unit in the tenders department to ensure sub-contracted services respect employment conditions of workers.”

The union said government, unlike what it had promised in its electoral programme, is taking little interest in the issue.