The incident that took place a month ago when a man who fell two floors while working on a construction site was abandoned on the road by the contractor is a clear indication of a system that seeks to exploit workers. And this does not only apply for immigrants because better health and safety conditions at the workplace benefit everybody.

ADPD supports the protest in Valletta railing against policies that makes it impossible or difficult for immigrants to work legally and therefore encourages their exploitation.

It is well known that some developers take advantage from this situation by ‘employing’ these individuals in an irregular manner, with very low pay and employment conditions that do not respect their dignity and safeguard their health and safety.

Between 2018 and 2020 there were 10 fatal accidents recorded in the construction industry. All the victims had emigrated to Malta. The lack of enforcement in this sector (as well as in others) leads many operators not to follow the established legal requirements at the workplace.

The budget announcement of ‘templates’ for employment contracts will not solve the exploitation happening in industries such as construction. There should be a register of workers to ensure that the health and safety at the workplace are being safeguarded.

Moreover, once again this budget failed to address the lack of a minimum wage that can ensure a decent living standard. While the European Union is discussing a Directive on how such a minimum wage can be calculated, the PLPN are opposing such a move. In this case also any improvement will benefit everybody.

Therefore, ADPD supports calls for better safety at the workplace where everybody is protected and respected.

We urge all to value the support of yesteryear by neighbours and the community especially to aid those vulnerable members of our society to reach their aspirations.

ADPD urges a more just society where policies are designed and applied in a way where human dignity is at the forefront and ensures that the ultimate aim of such policies remain the holistic development of each individual of whatever race or colour.

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Solidarjetà mad-dimostranti fil-Belt Valletta “M’hemmx aħna u huma”

Dak li seħħ xahar ilu meta raġel li waqa’ żewġ sulari waqt li kien qed jaħdem fuq sit tal-kostruzzjoni u ġie mormi fit-triq mill-imgħallem tiegħu jindika sistema li timbotta lejn sfruttament tal-ħaddiema. U dan ma japplikax biss għal dawk li huma immigranti f’pajjiżna għaliex titjib fis-sigurta fuq il-post tax-xogħol u kundizzjonijiet aħjar igawdi minnhom kulħadd.

ADPD tappoġġja l-protesta “M’hemmx aħna u huma” fil-Belt Valletta dwar politika li ma tagħmilhiex possibbli għal immigranti li jaħdmu legalment u għalhekk tinkoraġġixxi l-isfruttament tagħhom. Huwa fatt ukoll li uħud mill-iżviluppaturi jkompli jabbużaw minn din is-sitwazzjoni billi ‘jimpjegaw’ lil dawn l-individwi b’mod irregolari, bi ħlas miżeru u f’kundizzjonijiet ta’ xogħol xejn dinjitużi u li ma jħarsux is-saħħa u s-sigurtà tagħhom.

Bejn l-2018 u l-2020 kien hemm biss biss 10 inċidenti fatali li nafu bihom fl-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni. Il-vittmi kollha kienu persuni li kienu emigraw lejn Malta. Huwa fatt li n-nuqqas ta’ infurzar f’dan is-settur (kif ukoll f’setturi oħra) iwassal biex f’ħafna setturi hemm min jagħżel li jopera mingħajr il-proċeduri stabilliti fil-liġi għal postijiet tax-xogħol.

Il-miżura ta’ sempliċiment ‘templates’ ta’ kuntratti tax-xogħol ma ssolvix il-problema t’esplojtazzjoni speċjalment f’industriji bħal tal-kostruzzjoni. Għandu jkun hemm reġistru tal-ħaddiema biex jiġi assigurat li s-saħħa u s-sigurtà fuq il-post tax-xogħol jiġu mħarsa.

Hemm ukoll il-fatt li għal darb’oħra dan il-budget naqas li jindirizza il-problema ta’ nuqqas ta’ paga minima li biha wieħed jkun jista’ jgħix b’mod diċenti. Filwaqt li fl-Unjoni Ewropea bħalissa qegħda tiġi diskussa Direttiva dwar kif tinħadem il-paga minima, il-PLPN qed jopponu din id-Direttiva. F’dan il-każ ukoll titjib f’dan il-qasam igawdi minnu kulħadd.

Għalhekk ADPD tappoġġja t-talbiet għal akbar sigurtà fuq il-post tax-xogħol biex kulħadd iħossu protett u li jgawdi dinjità kull fejn ikun.

Inħeġġu ukoll biex nerġgħu nirritornaw għal dawk il-valuri fejn kulħadd iħoss li għandu il-wens tal-ġirien u fejn il-komunità kollha tgħin lil dawk speċjalment vulnerabbli biex jilħqu l-aspirazzjonijiet tagħhom.

ADPD tisħaq ukoll favur soċjetà aktar ġusta fejn il-politika titfassal u tiġi applikata b’mod fejn id-dinjità tal-bniedem tiġi qabel kollox u tassigura li l-għan aħħari ta’ din il-politika jibqa’ l-iżvilupp sħiħ tal-individwi huma min huma.