GWU condemns exploitation of migrant workers

The union was reacting to a report by the Council of Europe's Commission against Racism and Intolerance which which said that migrant workers in Malta were being paid miserable wages, sometimes as low as 25 cents a day.

The GWU pointed out that the Council of Europe's report confirms what the union has been stating fpr many years, that the problem of precarious work not only increased but has became a "plague."

"Despite the positive measures taken by the Labour government a few months ago to suppress this problem, especially involving government tenders , it appears that these were insufficient and other measures need to be taken to address unscrupulous contractors, mainly in the construction sector , which immorally employ migrant workers in the black and pay such workers way below what they are promised for a hard day's work."

Making reference to the Council of Europe's report which revealed migrant workers are being promised €25 a day for a job in construction but instead were being paid 25 cents .

"This behaviour should not only be condemned and brought to an end but the actions of contractors who exploit vulnerable workers are shameful," the union said.

It added that such cases are not isolated, citing recent reports which said that the government's waste agency, Wasteserv , discriminated between white and black workers.

"This is not tolerable because such behaviour ridicules human dignity," GWU added.

Reiterating its commitment that it would not give up its struggle against precarious work and against perpetuators, the union called on the authorities to do their utmost to enforce the law and carry out surprise visits on various construction sites on ensuring that migrant workers will no longer be blatantly exploited.

The GWU also called on the government to introduce harsher penalties, including prison terms, to act as a deterrent against employers who abuse workers, migrants and not "otherwise the fight against precarious work will never be won."