Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party referred to two examples of workers in the public sector who are not benefiting from equal rights for equal work. AD said that such exploitative practices should stop.

Prof. Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, said: “The 1000 or so odd Industrial Projects and Services Limited (IPSL) absorbed workers that were made redundant following the closure of Malta Shipbuilding, Malta Shipyards and Kalaxlokk Co. Ltd., are working under different conditions and salaries. Those that are obtaining salary increases to reflect their new duties are being given these increases in the form of an allowance. Basically, they are bound to perform the same duties of Government employees but with less rights. This is not right. The concept of equal salaries and equal conditions for equal jobs should be the mainstay of a socially just society.”

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: “Another issue we would like to raise concerns the 300 workers at Mater Dei hospital working as clerks, security officials and parkers by a private company and who are not being given the same rights, such as salary scale, to other workers performing equivalent jobs. Government had promised these workers, through their representatives, the General Workers’ Union, to have equal rights, but this has not been implemented.”

Briguglio added: “In parliament, AD will ensure that equal rights are given for equal work. With regard to public contracts, social criteria should be established to ensure that it is only serious companies which respect workers’ rights and the law are awarded such contracts. Every definite contact which is renewed for more than one year should be automatically considered as an indefinite contract. There should be stop to abusive practices where workers are engaged on definitive contracts for a period which expires a few days shorter than that stipulated by law to be eligible for an indefinite contract.”