Conditions of work must be retained

From time to time, somebody, most likely a government lackey, is going to put out a feeler about some controversial issue in order to see the reaction of the readers.

One can expect the employers' associations to plead to the government to decrease the annual public holidays, do away with the cos-of-living adjustment and stop the summer half days. But I think a government lackey would be of better service to his/her government if s/he remained neutral about such controversial issues.

The workers have already lost four days out of the 11 or so that had been lost during the Mintoff regime and restored by Eddie Fenech Adami. I wonder how much this measure contributed to productivity! Joseph Muscat promised to restore these four holidays to the workers when Labour is elected to government. Time will tell!

The employers cannot be blamed for putting pressure on the government of the day to see what more could be squeezed out of the workers' conditions of work on the premise of saving money and raising productivity.

Naturally, the unions cannot accept the dismantling of conditions of work won over the years after long discussions and hard bargaining. I wonder why government mouthpieces and employers' associations do not suggest other measures that will surely make a difference to the whole spectrum of how problems should be solved.

Why, for example, can't the well-off start paying for health services and medicines to make them sustainable for the poor? Now, more responsible people are talking sensibly about this issue. But both political parties are doing a disservice when they continue to promise to keep these services free for all. They know we can't keep doing that for long!

Even the Today Public Policy Institute and the Church expressed concern about the sustainability of the social security system, apart from well-established economists.

Another problem on which the government must be shaken is that concerning the pink card. The suffering of those who can't afford certain medicines owing to low wages and pensions while living with an acute disease must be constantly borne in mind. Should not the pink card be issued to all those suffering from incurable illnesses and who cannot afford the medicines and treatment due to their meagre earnings?

What also deserves attention is the matter of giving tangible protection to civil servants who work in vulnerable departments like inland revenue, schools, social services etc. where employees are occasionally physically attacked and abused.

The workers, through their responsible unions, are continuously contributing towards the common good. Some worked for less pay on a four-day week, without any increases and bonuses, to keep their factories open when that was possible. Others, like Drydocks workers, had to accept alternative employment or, in the case of the majority, early retirement. They lost the good work conditions such as overtime and promotions that were the hallmark of the Drydocks. But they all had to accept this for the common good of the country, we were told.

But then, aren't the Nationalist Party spokesmen asking too much when they continue to speak about COLA, summer half days, public holidays, etc?

Now the employers' associations are backed by the credit rating agency Fitch with regard to the automatic wage increases. Naturally, Fitch, like the employers, says that such increase damages competitiveness. But then I ask: If the government were to stop it, would it not seriously affect the standard of living of many families, especially now that the cost of living has shot up and many cannot cope and live decently?

I'm sure the government is well aware of this dilemma and the unions would never agree that this very important agreement is not respected.

Recently, the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin demanded a proper mechanism to protect consumers from price increases similar to the one put in place before and after the euro's introduction. The government is committed to changing the National Euro Changeover Committee into an agency to monitor price fluctuation. What is keeping the government from acting? This has now become a very urgent matter considering how the cost of living is rising at a faster pace with high water and electricity rates, gas prices that went sky-high, petrol and diesel prices increasing all the time, etc.

The Alliance of Pensioners' Organisations justifiably objected to the sudden removal of the gas subsidy saying this would further erode incomes, especially of those on or near the poverty line.

About the summer half days, one must not forget that civil servants work extra to make good for the summer half days. If they had to forfeit this privilege, then surely their winter working hours will be fewer. And mentioning longer hours in winter, couldn't the UĦM, which I believe is the largest representative of these civil servants, suggest to cut short the noon break and let them sign out, say 30 or 45 minutes earlier? Thus, they may catch a glimpse of the sun before sunset!

I remember at the Drydocks some years back we used to clock in a bit earlier than usual and the break was reduced but we then stopped work at 3.15 p.m., if I still remember correctly. We still gave an eight-hour working day. But the workers were happy and the management was happy too.

I think some similar arrangement could be made for government employees and this would surely not affect the work schedule or the output but be of great benefit to the workers and their families. Naturally, such an agreement must be approved by the workers themselves.