Most satisfied with job but not with pay

More than 81 per cent of Maltese workers interviewed in an EU-wide survey on various aspects of working conditions said they are satisfied with their job and working conditions but not with their pay.

Only 44 per cent said they are well paid for their work.

The fourth European Working Conditions survey was published yesterday in Brussels by the uropean Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, an EU agency based in Dublin. In Malta, 600 workers were interviewed by Misco on behalf of the EU agency.

Conducted once every five years, the EU agency survey unveils various aspects of Malta's working conditions. The average working week in 2005 was 40.6 hours and 65 per cent of workers usually work five days a week. 22.3 per cent said they work on a shift basis while 10 per cent said they hold more than one job.

The average daily commuting time from home to work is 34 minutes. Health and safety is steadily becoming a very important issue for Maltese workers. In fact, 35.4 per cent of respondents consider health or safety at risk because of work. The average absence from work due to illness (sick leave) in the preceding 12 months amounted to only 3.8 days per worker, one of the lowest in the EU. In the Netherlands for example, the average was 8.6 days annually.

Many are also content with their work-family life balance.

Seventy nine per cent of respondents noted that their working hours fit family or social commitments well or very well. However, more than 25 per cent are usually contacted over work even outside normal working hours.

More than 35 per cent find time to spend at least an hour a day helping children with their education while 30 per cent also do cooking and other housework after work.

Respondents were also asked specific details about their work: 45.2 per cent use computers with 37.5 per cent also using the internet. Forty-two per cent take a break when they like at their workplace while 70 per cent have enough time to get their job done.

However, more than 25 per cent complained of having to perform monotonous tasks. And 3.2 per cent experienced unwanted sexual attention from their colleagues.

The EU agency said the European Working Conditions Surveys have been providing a valuable insight into key aspects of work since 1990.

This survey was conducted across 31 countries, including the 27 EU member states, candidate countries Turkey and Croatia and also Switzerland and Norway.