Education workers 'still without indefinite contract'

Supply education workers employed for four years had not yet been given an indefinite contract as stipulated by law, the teachers' union complained yesterday.

The president of the Malta Union of Teachers, John Bencini said last year the government agreed to start abiding by EU legislation and give an indefinite contract to supply teachers, kindergarten assistants and learning support assistants who had been engaged for four years.

Apart from giving them a secure job, an indefinite contract also gives workers the possibility to advance in salary scales. However, a year after the agreement was reached with the union, the employees remained without an indefinite contract, he said.

Answering questions by The Times, an Education Ministry spokesman said discussions had been underway in the past months with a view to finalise an indefinite contract for the 1,400-odd supply workers. He said some people had been engaged for as long as 30 years but were ineligible for any career progression and had no job security.

Mr Bencini said discussions with the authorities over allowances for all teaching grades were underway and he expected a decision in the coming days.

He complained that bad record-keeping by the education authorities was seeing some kindergarten assistants who did not have enough experience advancing to a better salary scale while others were stopped.