2,700 subcontracted workers with government in precarious employment

2,700 workers who are employed by the private but subcontracted to work with the government are employed with precarious conditions, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.

Workers in precarious employment have been found to earn a pay of between €4.14 and €4.25 and hour, overtime paid by the hour and their contract renewed on a month-by-month basis. Security workers, for example, are even asked to pay their own licence, even though this should be paid by the employer.

Addressing a political activity in Haz-Zebbug, Muscat said he understood the frustration of these workers, many of whom were threatening not to vote in the coming EP elections in protest for the lack of action in their regard.

“I understand their situation and their employment conditions are illegal. However, I do not want to rush a plan simply because the elections are close. I assure them that like we kept on our word on other issues, this matter will be addressed.”

Muscat explained that at first the government thought on tackling category by category, starting off with security, cleaners, clerks and so forth. However, the government realised it couldn’t choose one category over the other so the plan was to start balancing the salaries.

For example, security workers directly employed by the government received a salary scale 18. The plan is for those subcontracted by the private sector to start receiving the minimum level of this scale and increasing it until both salaries become equal.

“We are trying to change the system by balancing it out because we cannot bring them on equal footing by the first time. The plan will be announced in the near future but I cannot rush it simply because of the elections. I am not fishing for votes and my commitment is to address the matter.”

He however still urged his audience to remember that the government had kept its word on several other issues.

Once again, Muscat also urged the Labour supporters to vote for the party’s candidates in order to elect Martin Schulz as president of the European Commission.

Referring to the 200 migrants who lost their lives on Monday afternoon, Muscat said the European Union could not continue turning a blind eye on these deaths.

“We need a legal migration system to fight these criminal rackets who abuse of the vulnerable position these migrants find themselves in,” he said.

Muscat added that Malta was offering its assistance to Italy to patrol the seas and the Armed Forces of Malta also sent an aircraft to help in Monday’s search.

Muscat said that unlike the Nationalist administration, the government delivers on it what it promises. Two men among the audience promptly produced their first cheque as the Labour government honoured its pledge to refund the registration tax on imported second-hand cars. The refund will be given in tranche.