Welfare workers suspend action

Industrial action taken by welfare workers at the government's immigration agency has been suspended after their management and representing union agreed to further discuss pending issues this week.

The decision to suspend the action came after a lengthy meeting between Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin and the management of the Organisation for the Integration and Welfare of Asylum Seekers (Oiwas) with the Director of Industrial and Employment Relations.

On Monday, the union ordered workers to resort to industrial action in protest against the way recent vacancies were handled.

Employees, mostly social workers, care workers and care coordinators, were instructed not to deliver cheques to young migrants in their residential homes or register immigrants for benefits.

However, section secretary Joe Bonello, who had suspected favouritism, said yesterday's meeting suggested there was no "foul play" in the job assignments. The issue seemed to boil down to the fact that Oiwas, set up two years ago, was still a young company and procedures still needed to be discussed.

For this reason, he said, the union decided to suspend the action and meet Oiwas management to outline job vacancy procedures and iron out any other pending issues.