Hotel manager fined for employing foreign cleaner

A hotel manager was yesterday fined €1,164 for employing a foreigner as a cleaner when she was not in possession of a Maltese work permit.

Rosario Formosa, 33, a manager at the Bella Vista Hotel, Qawra, was found guilty of illegally employing Ukranian Chayka Halyna who was caught by inspectors as she was cleaning the reception area.

Testifying, she said she had been working at the hotel for about six months on a part-time basis and paid by the hour. She said she did not know what the payment rate was but added she was paid by a housekeeper.

Mr Formosa said in court he did not know anything about Ms Halyna because workers were employed by their respective departments.

He only signed their work permits but remembered applying for her permit because the housekeeper had told him to.

In handing down judgement, Magistrate Laurence Quintano said he was not convinced the accused was not aware of what was going on because he was responsible for the hotel’s operations.