Overtime mentality

At the moment there are discussions about reducing the maximum weekly working time to 48 hours.

It is a European issue and so the European Parliament has already taken a first decision by voting against the opt-out clause of the EU working time directive on May 11.

There is a strong opposition, especially in Malta, to the new EU directive, which is there to protect the rights of the workers as well as to create new employment. But it seems both major parties here are not interested in creating jobs because they are against this directive.

Overtime should always be avoided, as it is an extra expense that makes the product more expensive through which the company loses its competitive edge.

There are times when overtime cannot be avoided totally. A big project or a temporary increase in production output would have to be managed. Therefore, a certain amount of overtime is necessary as a temporary measure.

The new EU directive will protect the workers who will not be forced to work more than they can stand. After a number of hours working on one job, a person loses concentration and it does not matter much whether one or more breaks are taken. The human body has its limits.

When the maximum working time per week is fixed to 48 hours (meaning approximately eight hours overtime per week) new jobs can be created, if there is more work to be done and which would exceed the 48-hour limit.

Many times it would be too expensive and not worth it to employ a full-timer. But at least people who work on a part-time basis would get a chance to enter the labour market. Be it for a week, a month or half a year. Someone who was unemployed and gets the chance to earn some money will be very thankful.

So why are the Nationalist Party and the Labour Party against this new directive? The MLP, especially, should have an interest in protecting and enforcing the workers' rights and in lowering the unemployment figures.

I believe that the reason behind this thinking is the overtime mentality. For an employee it has become most profitable working overtime, the more the better. Because of bad management, there are companies that grant overtime again and again and again and in so doing support the workers' position.

In a job interview a popular question by the prospective employee is: How much overtime do you grant?

Many people count on overtime. They even calculate it as a fixed part of their income. When it comes to getting a bank loan or making financial plans, the overtime pay becomes a fixed figure.

They work with it as if it were a regular income. Once overtime cannot be granted by their employer anymore, the problems start. This is what I call the "overtime mentality".

It is so strong that even the parties swim with this current, the MLP probably more than the PN because they are closer to the workers.

The unemployed do not have a lobby. The MLP protects the workers more than it encourages new employment.

This overtime mentality has to stop. I hope the new EU working time directive will be passed and will succeed all across Europe, including Malta.