Report of the International Department General Workers’ Union (Malta):

The Government of Malta is threatening to introduce new legislation following the November Budget aimed at eliminating all public holidays that fall on weekends, under the excuse, in an attempt to make the country more competitive. Such measures announced by the Government have found the immediate resistance of all Maltese trade unions and of the public opinion at large.

The year 2004 was dedicated to a long and extensive exercise of social dialogue within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) aimed at a possible agreement on a social and national pact between the Government, Trade Unions and Employers. Following the failure to reach such an agreement the Government announced a number of measures to the detriment of Maltese workers.

The GWU along with other trade unions have constantly argued that any measures taken should be on a temporary basis and the contribution of all social partners should be acknowledged. However the Budget measures of Government were a clear message to Maltese workers who were pinpointed as the main contributors to solve Malta’s economic and competitive problems.

Whilst many measures of the said Budget were received negatively by Trade Unions, one measure in particular was deemed unacceptable by the Trade Unions. The Government announced that all Public Holidays falling on a weekend shall no longer be added to the additional leave as stipulated in the Industrial and Employment Relations Act (EIRA) and as stipulated in most collective agreements resulting from free collective bargaining between Employers and Trade Unions. This has been seen as a clear breach of free collective bargaining.

Following the resistance made by both Employers and Trade Unions, the Government has found a way out ignoring all pleas for further negotiations, by proposing an amendment to the Legislation on Public Holidays by which amendment all Public Holidays falling on a weekend shall no longer be considered as Public Holidays in that particular year. This measure, supported by the Employers, means that an average of three feasts per annum shall be lost and no longer added to the optional leave of employees. Moreover workers who are employed on shift basis and deemed to work on such holidays on weekends will no longer receive the premiums they did before.

Ironically the Maltese Government in 2005 will therefore be declaring Workers Day on May 1st and Christmas day as no longer to be considered Public Holidays. Such measures are seen by the trade union movement as an insult to the trade union movement and to the public at large. Such measures shall furthermore decrease family time and resting time with an over-all impact on the work-life balance, but further reduce the take home pay of a number of workers (approximately 40% of the total work force). Moreover the initiatives of Government are slamming and turning back the clock to the days when collective bargaining was restrained and controlled.

Today, Monday 10th January the GWU along with other Maltese Trade Unions shall be organizing a protest in the Capital of Valletta. Trade Unions shall be joined by thousands of workers that are not ready to accept any further deterioration in their working conditions.

The GWU International Department shall keep you informed of any future developments.