Iva Movement counteracts 'employers' scare campaign'

The Iva Movement has embarked on a campaign to counteract the pressure a number of employers are allegedly putting on workers to vote against EU membership in the upcoming referendum.

At least four major firms, operating in different areas, were among those that had approached their employees over the past weeks and told them they risked being out of a job if Malta joined the EU, Iva Movement general secretary David Casa said.

He urged employers to stop giving a distorted picture of the EU and instead inform workers about the opportunities that came hand in hand with membership.

"They're not telling them that new competitors would need more experienced workers. They're not telling them that competition lures more investment. This scare campaign is wrong," Mr Casa protested.

A total of 15 workers of a particular large firm, whose directors had sounded the alarm bells, were in fact summoned to the Iva headquarters last Saturday where they were "given the true picture of the EU".

Mr Casa said the pro-EU movement was informed that some employers had approached their employees on a one-to-one basis to warn them about membership.

"We know that some employees were approached directly, other employers had told their employees that company profits will be slashed after membership and that they would have no option but to fold up or sack employees."

He said the warnings of certain employers were not politically motivated but merely because they felt threatened by the prospect of membership.

"The prospect of competition somehow scares them. Yes, with the EU there's going to be complete liberalisation but just look at the telecoms sector to equate its success."

Just before the liberalisation of the telecoms sector, stories of doom and gloom, in which hundreds were told they would lose their jobs, were rife, Mr Casa said.

"But what happened instead? Companies have expanded, jobs were created and the consumer is benefiting from cheaper prices and a better service."

Mr Casa was nevertheless optimistic that workers can figure out the benefits of membership on their own, even if the advice of their employers was often heeded.