Two companies blacklisted from government contracts

Two companies found employing workers on precarious conditions have been blacklisted from government contracts for two years.

Gafasaveways Ltd and Clenec Ltd have been found guilty of having breached employment regulations.

The Department of Contracts has issued a circular directing all permanent secretaries, directors general and heads of departments in the public sector to ignore the two companies for any direct orders, quotations or public tenders.

The blacklisting of the two companies was ordered following the government's expressed commitment to fight precarious employment.
MaltaToday last year reported that cleaning contractor Gafasaveways Ltd was awarded over €8 million in cleaning contracts during the previous legislature and awarded at least one contract which was in breach of minimum wage conditions.

In a statement, the government said the blacklisting of Gafasaveways Ltd and Clenec Ltd was possible because of new regulations that came into force last year.

"These regulations allow the authorities to regularly scrutinise government contracts and ensure they are in line with the employment regulations," the statement read. It added the government had already taken steps not to renew contracts - "exceptional cases excluded" - where the employer was found abusing of the workers. 

In April, the government had taken steps to improve the working conditions of some 40 subcontracted workers at ARMS Ltd.