'We will not let the government buy our resignation'

The early retirement schemes offered at the shipyards are an "insult" - according to four employees determined to work at the docks until they are sacked - since they would lead to pay cuts and a change of lifestyle.

The four workers told The Sunday Times that Malta would lose a great deal in terms of skills - which took years to develop - if privatisation failed and the government closed the docks.

Antonio Dato, a 35-year-old shipwright and father of two who started working at the docks in 1990, said: "I have made plans based on my abilities and my salary. Even my home loan is based on what I earn today, something that will change if I apply for the scheme and look for another job."

For those who are closer to retirement age, accepting early retirement and finding another job poses a different problem - a potential reduction in pension, which is worked out on the basis of best three years out of the last 10.

Ray Bugeja, a 47-year-old shipwright, pointed out that through such a scheme he would be better off not working since a lower-paying job would have a negative impact on his pension.

"For years I would have paid National Insurance based on a certain salary but my pension would be based on a lower income. That is downright unfair and I am very worried about it," he said.

"What will I do afterwards if I accept early retirement? I will have to start from scratch after spending the past 36 years at the docks. I might as well stay," Mr Bugeja said.

Oreste Bottiglieri, 51, is adamant that he will not accept early retirement. "I have always done my job well, so why should I resign from a job that I love? I will not let government buy my resignation," Mr Bottiglieri, a general foreman of steel workers, said. He said that workers with years of experience were being "ridiculed" during job interviews, with prospective employers questioning their skills and offering a much lower salary than they currently earned.

Mr Bottiglieri, who joined Malta Drydocks in 1972, said that if he loses his job, he would leave the island.

"I will not throw away the skills that I have acquired over these past 36 years and become a second-class worker who is exploited," he said, adding that the workers would be an asset to the new owner of the drydocks.

He criticised the handling of the privatisation process, saying it had had a negative psychological effect on workers who were scared and "morally broken".

Ray Calleja, a foreman for fitters, expressed concern that there could be injuries because the minds of workers - uncertain about their future - were not fully on the job.

Asked what he thinks about privatisation, Mr Calleja said his initial reaction was relief. "I hoped that finally there would be someone who is able to manage the docks better than they have been over the past years," he said.

He strongly believes that workers have done their utmost to make the docks successful, and showed The Sunday Times a number of congratulatory e-mails sent by satisfied clients.

"There have been many occasions when we fixed something that was deemed beyond repair. The workers have always done their best," said the 48-year-old, who has been working at the docks since 1978.