Unions and employers react to labour migration policy
Initial reactions to the labour migration policy document put forward by the government earlier this week on Wednesday seem to be generally positive.The Malta Independent spoke with representatives from UHM - Voice of the Workers and the Malta Employ
Initial reactions to the labour migration policy document put forward by the government earlier this week on Wednesday seem to be generally positive.
The Malta Independent spoke with representatives from UHM - Voice of the Workers and the Malta Employers' Association about the new labour migration policy, while a statement was published by the General Workers' Union on Friday.
When presenting the labour migration policy, Prime Minister Robert Abela remarked that it is intended to regulate how workers from outside the European Union are able to enter the Maltese labour market. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri presented 32 recommendations as part of the new labour migration policy which has now been issued for public consultation. The consultation is open until 9 February.
Josef Vella, the Chief Executive Officer of UHM, said that the union's initial reaction to the policy document is that there needs to be some work done in regard to the matter of turnovers "as we don't entirely agree with the percentages".
"Turnovers are still large, and no workplace should be content if it truly has that level of turnover, so we believe that this should be limited further - but how much and where needs to be part of further discussions."
Vella continued that the biggest point of contention for the UHM is that the labour migration policy does not mention the matter of housing. He commented that the issue of housing needs to be viewed from two aspects, "when it comes to third-country nationals so that they are not abused when it comes to housing facilities, and we also need to take care of locals." He remarked that there are many locals, particularly youths and couples, who are acquiring apartments and entering into large expenses, then finding that the apartments next to them are being rented by large groups of people "living in one apartment with 24/7 activity".
This housing situation, Vella commented, is causing a lot of dissatisfaction among the public, "so there needs to be a balance". He stated that the migration policy should not only look at the workplace, but should also look at the social aspect as there is an impact which goes beyond the parameter of the workplace. "There is a social impact, and accommodation is one of them."
The UHM CEO remarked that the government has, until now, "always refused or not heeded the appeals by the unions" for TCNs to be provided training through the unions. Vella added that a good percentage of TCN workers are members of unions, and stated that such an initiative is something that is lacking and would prove to be a benefit.
Joseph Farrugia, a consultant with and former Director General of the Malta Employers' Association, told The Malta Independent that the document has a lot of positive aspects and that it is a policy which is needed. Having said that, he continued that one needs to view it in context, and said that the context is that many foreign workers have come into Malta over the years, and the country now has an economy which depends on them.
"During the last two years, there was a net increase of 20,000 foreign workers per year. We also have had significant demographic changes, including an ageing population caused by a low birth rate and longer life expectancy."
Farrugia remarked that the labour migration policy is a policy which is "required", but added that it needs to be stressed that better use of local resources must be made before importing labour. "We have been saying this for years. The Maltese human resource should be used before using foreign labour, because you have a lot of loss there, and it is one of the things leading to the increase in foreign workers."
He commented that he is not saying that there should not have been an increase in foreign workers, and added that the trend was in place prior to 2013, "but if one sees what happened after 2013, you had a sudden spike where the trend kept going".
In a statement published on Friday, the GWU said that it "has commended the government's initiative on labour market policy to change the way third-country workers in Malta are employed". It continued that as a trade union whose central concern is the worker, it has been proposing and insisting on the necessary measures to be taken to stop labour market abuse in Malta while also guaranteeing decent incomes and proper working conditions.
"Employees in Malta need to be brought according to market demands and their skills," Bugeja remarked. He continued that heightened vigilance and attention will ensure that only those workers whose skills are required will be introduced to the Maltese labour market. He also stated that it is essential that Maltese and Gozitan workers are given the chance to access a job first before bringing in workers from abroad.
The GWU Secretary General remarked that Malta's economy is moving ahead, and added that the momentum needs to be kept up. He stated that changing the way in which TCNs are brought to Malta to work was a "necessary step undertaken by the government".
He said that foreign workers are valued members of the workforce, and added that their contribution is essential to the success of the country's economy. With that in mind, he commented that there is a need for measures which ensure further control.
On the matter of turnover rates, GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja remarked that "employers cannot simply sack workers at their whim" with the knowledge that there is an "endless supply of foreign workers" that will keep labour costs down. "We perfectly agree with the proposed measures that will limit the number of permits issued to businesses demanding to employ far more workers than they require. We encounter various cases of exploitation of foreign workers in our country. It is unjust and unworthy to treat human beings as disposable units, and only when it suits one's interests."
The statement concluded that the GWU will work hand in hand with the government to make the labour migration policy a success.
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