Court proceedings on possible incorrect issue of work permits underway
Court proceedings on possible incorrect issue of work permits were underway, the Employment and Training Corporation said in a statement.
It said data as at the end of February showed 6,953 active employment licences. Of these, 55.6 per cent were in respect to EU citizens, 10.5 per cent to asylum seekers, those with temporary humanitarian or subsidiary protection (the latter get an automatic work permit) and 33 per cent to third country nationals.
The ETC said that EU citizens, except for Romanians and Bulgarians until the transitional arrangement is in force, had every right to work in Malta just as any Maltese citizen had a right to work in any EU country.
So employment licences for EU nationals, asylum seekers, people enjoying temporary humanitarian or subsidiary protection were issued irrespective of the occupation they applied for.
On the other hand, employment licences for third country nationals were subject to a labour market test to establish whether EEA or Swiss nationals were able to do the job in question.
These vacancies were notified via email to all registered job seekers who might apply for the post. They were also displayed on the ETC’s website and on the EURES Malta website. If a job seeker was deemed able to do the job, the corporation would not issue the work permit.
The ETC said employers who employed third country nationals were bound to take a private hospital health insurance cover for these employees.
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colin stanley
Mar 21st 2010, 21:48
@Mr. Bill James. when someone says kick out the foreigners, they mean all these people from non Eu countries that are here illegally, not EU. citizens, or people who bring their business to Malta.It is true look around anywhere in Malta, catering, construction, cleaners, etc. all foreigners. with or without permit?
Kevin Zammit
Mar 21st 2010, 21:23
Any polite and educated individual with the willingness to work and finds work is welcome as far as I'm concerned. What I do not want to see is an increase in social cases.
Bill James
Mar 21st 2010, 20:23
@J.Bugeja
Kick out the foreigners - what a great idea - that policy worked in Zimbabwe...oh wait it destroyed the country's economy and it now has 80% unemployment...
J Bugeja
Mar 21st 2010, 21:39
Malta is not Zimbabwe except perhaps under the present government who is spineless where foreigners are concerned.
John F. Galea
Mar 21st 2010, 19:17
Emplolyment without the requsite licence and without the proper registration with the ETC is rampant. A concentrated effort to stop such malpractice should be made by the authorities concerned including ETC, Inland Revenue, Social Security and the Vat departmrent. How can an employer be paying illegally employed workers if he is not breaking the laws of the mentioned authorities. Employers are avoiding tax, social security payments and vat dues.
Please stop burying your heads in the sand and wake up to face exisiting problems before it is too late. Politicans and those in authority please note and act now.
martin saliba
Mar 21st 2010, 19:10
@ J Bujeja. Ok, tou have given us a recipe for economical disaster. Do you have one to bake a nice cake ?
J Bugeja
Mar 21st 2010, 21:41
We were much better off and did not have any such problems when foreigners were not allowed in Malta on condition that they cannot work and had to pay a certain amount of tax every year. Now the government has lost all control and we are already becoming a Haiti in the Mediterranean.
R.Gauci
Mar 21st 2010, 18:34
Is the ETC opening this court case against itself? As far as I know this corporation is responsable for the issueing of work permits? Can someone explain me please?Thanks
george farrugia
Mar 21st 2010, 17:33
@J.Bugeja
This gentleman seems to be residing in the clouds. What will happen to the thousands of expats who are investors here and who are employing thousands of locals. What would happen to the high end employees required by our high tech companies in Aircraft Maintenance, online gaming, investment services etc...who will teach the Maltese how to do these new jobs....will it be yourself perhaps...
J Bugeja
Mar 21st 2010, 18:59
Foreigners were always given permission when there were no Maltese citizens to do the job and with the condition that they train a Maltese citizen within six months and their permit was only issued for six months. That should be the order of the day. Thousands of expats employing thousands of local workers? You must be living in the clouds.
cheryl ize
Mar 21st 2010, 15:37
@ Joe fenech thats the case unfortunately.
Ive been legal in this country for years but to get workpermit is hell for us NON EU from thirdworld countries. But nationals like americans australians canadians its no big deal for them to get workpermit even though they are non EU!
I know how many times ive applied for workpermit for job and refused!
J Bugeja
Mar 21st 2010, 19:00
Why should third world persons come to employ themselves in Malta. You should go back to your own country.
Joe Fenech
Mar 21st 2010, 21:24
We are not a charity institution. We've built this country and we would like to share it with the west who has the same economic and cultural standards like us.
J Bugeja
Mar 21st 2010, 15:34
My vote will go to the party that declares in its electoral manifesto that the moment it is in power it will declare all foreigners working permits revoked, that foreign workers shall be given 48 hours to leave Malta and if they do not will be fined at least a €10,000 fine and an additional fine of €1,000 for every day they remain here, and anyone who employs them will be subject to a €50,00 fine and 3 months imprisonment for every such worker he employs. That should solve the unemployment problems that we presently have in Malta. If no party does this then my vote will be framed and displayed in my sitting room for every politician who comes to beg me for my vote at election time to see it.
Joe Borg
Mar 21st 2010, 15:27
So for the 26th and 27th EU member state countries (until May next year) is not possible to get an automatic work permit; and for illegals who break the law to enter in our territory it is possible to get automatic work permit. This makes me think if we are members of the European Union or of the African Union.
Matthew Cefai
Mar 21st 2010, 13:33
I would like to ask anyone concerned if it is legal to be employed as a full-timer and part-timer with the same company?This happens in our country and is been happening for long especially with security companies for the only reason not to pay overtime to the workers! I am waiting for a hero to stop this cause it is not acceptable.
Joe Fenech
Mar 21st 2010, 13:20
So if you're an illegal immigrant you get all the benefits and if you're a non-EU European your life is hell !!! ONLY IN MALTA!!! Let's have a Berlusconi style politics and get rid of our mediocre politicians.