50 refugees have work permits

Denis Catania

Jul 6th 2009, 21:19

What a joke. Enemployment is up and you have 1266 ILLEGALS with work permits. Can the minister tell us how many ILLEGALS are working without permits?

jimmy Vella

Jul 6th 2009, 18:40

How can thousands ILLEGAL immigrants get a legal work permit and those that are not illegal immigrants get refused work permit. Does this only happen in Malta I wonder

Michelle Dali

Jul 6th 2009, 16:16

'1,266 illegal immigrants who have a working permit.'

Why are llegal immigrants being given work permits? Shouldn't they be deported if they are in the country illegally?

Does this mean that the thousands of others staying in Malta are living off the tax payer?

Galea. L

Jul 6th 2009, 16:07

Kif jghid il-qawl Malti, Il-Huta minn rasha tinten.

Robert Callus

Jul 6th 2009, 16:07

@MSciberras
I agree with you that we make a hodge podge regards terms, but I believe an MP should know the difference in a person's legal status. If he asked about refugees and meant something else it's his problem.

I can't understand what you mean by this:
'most of the illegal immigrants in Malta only qualify for humanitarian refuge status'

People with just Humanitarian Status are not illega migrants. If when their 1 year Status is not renewed, they will be categorised as being here illegally.
In my opinion people with Humanitarian Status should be given a temporary work permit, so as not to be exploited (which harms Maltese workers) or remain a burden cause they can't finance themselves. Obviously the work permit would be revoked once their Status expires.

Joanne Micallef

Jul 6th 2009, 13:43

Please note that there is a huge difference between a refugee and an illegal immigrant. I am in favour of refugees having a working permit, but this figure goes to show that the rest of the refugees together with all the other illegal immigrants in Malta, are all being financed by us tax payers.

MSciberras

Jul 6th 2009, 13:20

Refugees having a work permit is acceptable & very few qualify as refugees. The real issue is that most of the illegal immigrants in Malta only qualify for humanitarian refuge status, which is a different matter entirely and reviewed each year. The reply to this PQ does not make sense because I am certain that the MP who asked it meant this latter category. This constant misuse of the word refugee is extremely damaging as people who are truly refugees deserve our fullest protection. A recent article by a certain priest published by The Times who is heavily involved in charity work for prisoners constantly used the word refugee, even if it was obvious he meant illegal immigrants in general. If the subject was refugees then I am all for his good intentions. Not otherwise. Humanitarian refuge is granted to anyone who demonstrates he comes from a war zone say, or a country where there are political problems, if I understand it correctly. As this applies to most of Africa, it is too wide a definition, and is a main reason why Dublin 2, drafted in the post war years with European refugees in mind, needs to be redrafted.

Mike farrugia

Jul 6th 2009, 11:00

Can the minister please clarify, what exactly are these illegal immigrants entitled to? Is it true that that they are entitled to things which legal Maltese tax-payers are not entitled to? like dentures, medicines, phone cards, free electricity etc...or are they just rumours?

d. borg

Jul 6th 2009, 10:42

If they are illegal immigrants, how come they have working permits? Should'nt they be deported immediately?

louise vella

Jul 6th 2009, 09:36

"illegal immigrants having a working permit"??? Can the minister please explain?