Parliamentary committee meeting abruptly interrupted

The parliamentary social affairs committee held a meeting with a delegation of experts from the Council of Europe convention on Action Against Human Trafficking (GRETA). The experts monitor the implantation of the convention on human trafficking in member states.

After a brief introduction by the delegation's spokesperson, the committee's chairman and Nationalist MP Edwin Vassallo gave a brief description of the parliamentary committee's role. He went on to explain that the meeting is being streamed live on the parliament's webpage and said "whatever will be said in this meeting will be public."

On hearing this, the GRETA spokesperson seemed to be taken by surprise and said that she had not been made aware of this. She said that "the delegation's meetings are held in confidence."

Vassallo then announced the termination of the official meeting and said that the meeting will continue in confidentiality. At this point the live transmission was cut off.   

Prior to the termination of the broadcast, the spokesperson of the delegation explained that GRETA is holding a number of meetings with various stakeholders in order to have a better overview of how Malta is dealing with the issue. The GRETA representative said that "the problem is not exclusive to Malta but afflicts all countries."

She added that the delegation is holding a series of informal discussions in Malta to discuss the role of the Maltese parliament and other authorities in dealing with the problem.

In his brief introduction, Vassallo introduced the other members of the committee, Labour MPs Joe Debono Grech and Michael Falzon. He said that the two Labour MPs and himself form a "specific committee within the social affairs committee that deals with irregular immigration."   

Vassallo added that "the issue of irregular immigration is urgent and delicate." He explained that  the committee has met with representatives of the police, the  Armed Forces of Malta, the home affairs ministry and other stakeholders.

In a clear reference to the gentlemen's clubs in Paceville which employ a number of foreign women, Vassallo said "Apart from the irregular migration issue, the committee has dealt with the situation in the nightlife spots.  We did not come across any cases of human trafficking but we believe that there is a possibility of human trafficking in the entertainment sector."

He added that legislation is in place but implementing and enforcing the law is "a difficult task." Vassallo said that the committee also held meetings with nightclub owners. "I believe that the owners really try to be lawful. However we need to be careful as what is regular today is not necessarily regular tomorrow."

Vassallo explained that the committee is also concerned with Chinese workers in Malta and the possibility of the existence of child trafficking.  "The problem with such issues is that they are not visible as irregular immigration is," he said.

On the role of parliament, Vassallo said that politicians must make sure that legislation is right but must also "be aware of what is happening in order to ensure that legislation matches with reality and be as effective as possible."  He also said that the committee is not discussing numbers or money but human beings and expressed his curiosity at the delegation's findings and positions on human trafficking.