New benefits for part-timers

Zminijietna - Voice of the Left would like to ask if any workers are benefiting from the recent legal changes that envisage pro-rata entitlement of benefits - such as leave and sick leave - to workers whose primary job is on a part-time basis.

Workers who already have bad conditions - including young workers, elderly workers and female workers in various sectors - and people who would like to enter the labour market are those workers who are most likely to least benefit from such legal entitlements, if enforcement of the legislation is not properly effected. This contradicts the stated government objective for more women to enter the labour market which would only be reached if such legislation is enforced.

There is insufficient information being made available to the public and especially to the affected workers concerned. It is incumbent on the legislator to provide a serious information service when embarking on such changes in legislation. As a minimum the authorities should oblige the employers themselves to inform their part-time employees about their new benefits.

Zminijietna also believes in the need for further changes in legislation to the benefit of workers. As a bare minimum these should include family-friendly work measures such as accessible and affordable child-care facilities, availability of options for workers for flexible hours, an increase in the minimum wage and tax relief on low and middle income earners.

Zminijietna - Voice of the Left supports trade unions in their efforts for workers rights and we urge them to voice such concerns within MCESD.