[WATCH] Number of inspections to increase in fight against precarious employment

Number of inspections to combat precarious employment are on the increase

The number of inspectors and inspections carried out by the government to combat precarious employment are set to increase, Social Dialogue Minister Helena Dalli said.

In a press conference on precarious employment, Dalli said that SVPR was one hospital where subcontracted workers were now receiving equal pay to workers employed directly by the government.

"Over €5 million were dedicated by the government to match the salaries of subcontracted workers," she said, adding that care, cleaning and security sectors were more prone to such abuse of workers.

The government has also set up a tribunal for the blacklisting of companies that do not follow proper regulations. Companies that refuse to adhere to the working conditions would be blacklisted for two years from government tenders.

The number of inspectors to carry out checks on places of work have increased and the government was committed to continue increasing enforcement, Dalli added. 

Workers present for the press conference said some of them have seen their salary almost double up. One of them also presented a pay slip to show the difference.

The minister said that improving the conditions of workers also helped to deliver an improved service to the patients.

Family Minister Michael Farrugia encouraged more people to work in the healthcare sector, saying that the demand was always there.

Parliamentary secretary for the elderly Justyne Caruana said SVPR was improving the quality of the services delivered by investing heavily in training.