The Lilliput people

By analogy Malta seems to have become Lilliput Land since the 2003 general election. The way many situations have been handled by the government has created an environment that seems to have made the salaried Maltese resemble the tiny people of Lilliput. The analogy extends only to the physical minuteness, thus the physical insignificance of these legendary people.

The way Maltese workers are being treated by the government gives the impression that Maltese workers have become greatly insignificant. However, for the government significance is continuously afforded to profits and not to people.

Wherever a problem crops up, the solution found by the government lately has always been to either downsize the workforce or contain their employment conditions. This has been the case at Malta Drydocks and Malta Shipbuilding, with the promise of making them viable. Since the exodus of the multi-skilled workforce from Malta Drydocks and Malta Shipbuilding Industries, the number of contracts of work have been kept to a minimum. The only surge that must be noticed once again is in the on-going deficit. However, the foreign executive director there is still maintaining his Lm118,000 salary, not to mention the perks attached to the post!

Another similar claim by the government is with regard to the state broadcasting station, PBS. The workers there have been said to be the cause of the bad financial state and operations. However, in spite of quite a lot of issues that have been raised during these recent weeks by the government, the future of state broadcasting and the station itself has not as yet been concluded, with the consequence that the workforce at PBS has become utterly demoralised.

The latest to savour the way the government goes about its business are the employees of the national airline. Air Malta employees too are awaiting decisions much to their dismay and sadness. It was sad to hear that Air Malta has to set off debts running into quite a few million liri. Such debts were not the result of any wrongdoing on the part of the workforce but rather the consequence of a series of irresponsible decisions. Unfortunately, Air Malta employees can too be described as a demoralised workforce.

In parliament last week, the government brought forth two resolutions with regard to Air Malta, which were discussed over two sessions. Though it was very much stressed by the opposition that those responsible for the financial mess should be brought to line and answer for their deeds, the government seems to be set to choose the easiest route, that of setting in motion a programme of action which it says leads to flexibility, but not discounting the possibility of downsizing the workforce if it is felt that such a move would put the national carrier on a sounder footing. Another consideration proposed by the government is the possibility of dismantling Air Malta altogether. This would be a national shame for all of us due to the company's strategic importance and also its past successes.

The sense of job insecurity pervading the country is creating havoc in the minds of the families of the workers concerned and a sense of commercial instability is slowly culminating in the business sector. Unfortunately, industrial instability can be seen looming.

Early retirement schemes should not be the solution.

It is most urgent and important to clean up this undesirable mess. It is the responsibility of the government to start tackling these vital issues in the right manner, by striking the proper balance between modernising and updating the work systems and operations of the national entities and, on the other hand, to treat workers with dignity and decency.

Maltese workers are not the people of Lilliput!

Ms Coleiro is the opposition's spokesman on social solidarity.