Political leaders unite against precarious work

The leaders of the three main parties, today agreed on the need to join forces with civil society to address precarious work and improve working conditions.

Addressing a seminar organised by Forum of Maltese Unions in Valletta to mark Workers Day, prime minister Joseph Muscat, opposition leader Simon Busuttil and Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola concurred over the need to address a number of pressing issues in regards to employment.

This was welcomed by Forum president Paul Pace who called for greater consultation with  unions and a stronger representation of workers.  “How can we talk on democracy when workers are still struggling to achieve representation,” he said.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said “we cannot talk on employment without talking on education,” adding that the country was facing a number of challenges in the education sector which the government was addressing by a series of measures targeting early school leavers and drop outs.

Underlining the government’s plans to address precarious work by introducing minimum requirement in public procurements, Muscat said “we are committed to continue in our fight against abuse.”

Noting that despite the majority of companies were law abiding, a number of companies tried were “slick” and government would be addressing the problem by dealing with companies on a one-to-one basis.

He said this had already yielded positive results, with the 40 customer care workers employed precariously by the utility billing company ARMS had received a €2 hourly increase. 

PN leader Simon Busuttil said the country should look at making the most of EU opportunities in terms of creating jobs and improving working conditions.

He emphasised the importance of consulting with social partners, especially in creating a plan for job creation.

Noting the growing unemployment rate, Busuttil said “we recognise the important role that social partners, including unions play in this process.”

Stressing that the lack of consultation by government is “unacceptable,” Busuttil called for “wider consultation and industrial harmony.”

While praising a number of measures such as the introduction of free child care centres, Busuttil said that government should look at other measures such as flexi-work which would lead to a better family-work balance.

He also called for greater efforts to fight precarious work and improve working conditions in all sectors, which he said can be achieved by greater investment in education and training.

On his part, the Green Party chairperson Arnold Cassola reiterated the party’s call for an increase in the minimum wage and an end to precarious work, which he described as “modern slavery.”

“It is scandalous that the two big parties are opposed to an increase in the minimum wage,” Cassola said, adding that the Green Party wants to see working conditions improve for all, especially for the most vulnerable.

While acknowledging government’s efforts to blacklist two companies who were employing persons in precarious job conditions, Cassola said “we are informed that companies who were awarded government contracts are paying their employees €5.78 an hour.”

He added that government should also address cases of unequal pay for equal work, with a number of persons employed in the public transport and at hospital having unequal wages despite doing the exact same job.