News

The GWU’s Professionals, Finance & Services Section that represents employees of local security companies is appealing to the authorities to take quick action to remedy the situation. Whilst the sector has been suffering for many years, recently it has hit rock bottom. Competition between local operators has become abusive in so far as conditions of employment are concerned as a number of companies are adopting illicit, if not illegal, practices.



The GWU has already presented proposals before the Employment Relations Board (ERB) of Government. The Board discusses legislation changes under Employment law and ultimately these are put in force by the Minister responsible for Employment regulation. The Union appeals to the Parliamentary Secretary responsible for employment regulation to push these amendments to labour law to protect employees from exploitation and create a concerted effort through the wage regulation order to gradually improve conditions of work whilst restricting all illicit and unlawful practices that unfortunately are adopted.



The Section is very concerned that it is now apparent that all security companies are willing to consider adopting illicit and unlawful practices. Whilst they may justify this as their competitors already adopt such measures and face little repercussions, the Union is concerned that local operators who advocate good standards locally or internationally, should never cross the bridge on employment conditions.



For this purpose the Union has written to Malta Employers Association (MEA) Director General requesting their position and asking for an intervention amongst employers. The Union has also put on the table a proposal for the MEA to consider a sector wide security collective agreement. It is being argued by the Union that local internal competition between security companies, requires a sector wide employment conditions agreement that builds upon the minimum standards in the law. Such an approach would strengthen competition and not undermine it as employees’ reasonable conditions of work and their health and safety cannot be sold off to enable an employer to submit cheaper tenders.



The Section also points its attention towards the Tenders Department and Government at large to control its tenders demanding security human resources. It is unreasonable for Government to continue out-sourcing without control and monitoring. Whilst out-sourcing is not the ideal advocated system of work for the Section, when this is resorted to Government has a social responsibility towards third party employees that are giving it a service. It is not acceptable to the Union that investigations are said to have been held and yet employers continue to operate public tenders and works at prices that cannot provide a real minimum wage with subsequent conditions of employment at law. The Department of Employment and Industrial relations needs to step up its action if it does not want to end up having a situation of absolute precarious employment.



In the coming weeks the Union shall be initiating exploratory efforts with Union representatives on a concerted effort across all the sector which could include sector wide initiatives called by the Union. In the meantime the GWU is appealing to all security guards in Malta to be attentive towards their employment conditions and to join the GWU through its website www.gwu.org.mt or by visiting the GWU premises.