Employers shun automatic alternative jobs proposal

The Malta Employers' Association said it disagreed with the practice that employees who lose their job with a government controlled company would expect the state to automatically provide them with alternative employment.

Referring to a statement by the General Workers' Union regarding employees at Interprint, who face redundancy, the MEA said a guarantee as that demanded by the union would discriminate against employees in the private sector who may also face redundancy after years of productive employment but who do not have the privilege of being automatically employed with the government. Instead, they have to find new employment themselves or through ETC, the association added.

The MEA said there is no denying the hardship faced by workers who lose their job, especially after long years of working with the same company. However, the solution lies only in creating productive jobs in the private sector to absorb persons seeking employment.

It said the state cannot squander its resources on financing loss-making parastatal enterprises indefinitely.

The MEA supported the government in making difficult but necessary decisions to restructure or close down such companies when there was no profitable alternative.

On the other hand, the association agrees that every effort should be made to offer retraining and to find suitable employment to affected workers. This applies to employees in both the private and public sectors.

The association expressed its satisfaction at the pronouncement by Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg and Education and Employment Minister Louis Galea whereby the issue of work permits to non-EU workers will be carried out through the Employment and Training Corporation.

The MEA agreed there is a need to clamp down on foreign workers employed illegally.