The ETC, 20 years on

Soon after the Nationalist Party came into power in 1987, the need was felt for a structured employment agency to deal not only with unemployment but, maybe most importantly, to train those seeking work and thus offer more openings for future employment. This was the most direct way to deal with the high unemployment rates that were hitting our islands at that time. Gone were the days when the government offered schemes under which the workers were paid a pittance for doing next to nothing. It was time to start looking at productive and profitable jobs. The Employment and Training Corporation was the tool that was to provide not only thousands of jobs throughout the years but also vocational training and information to job seekers.

Since its inception 20 years ago, the ETC has evolved in many ways, especially through specialised training co-funded by the European Union and with the introduction of direct training specifically aimed at particular age groups. Moreover, the ETC has also introduced special schemes for the needs of Gozitan workers so as to try and find as much employment in Gozo for the Gozitans as possible. This was possible by paying part of the salary of the job seekers who find employment in Gozo and its aim was to reduce as much as possible the hassle of travelling to Malta every day for work purposes.

Besides helping thousands of people to find work and training thousands of others, the ETC also plays an important role in attracting foreign investment, by introducing and carrying out specialised courses. This was particularly successful in cases such as the investments made in Malta by Lufthansa Teknik, where the balance tipped in favour of Malta because there were enough trained personnel to carry out the jobs Lufthansa was seeking. Thus the vision of ETC in training job seekers in specialised skills is reaping its fruits and opening the doors to even more investment. The ETC’s main priority is to prepare those looking for work with the training necessary. Undoubtedly EU membership has been a great asset to the corporation as it has made available more than €37 million to be used in schemes and to help those who are finding it difficult to engage themselves in work, especially persons in the higher age group bracket. The ETC also uses these funds to facilitate the integration of those with special needs in the labour world, thus enabling them to live a more independent life.

These past 20 years have seen substantial changes in the way unemployment is dealt with. Whereas 20 years ago one looked for a life time job, with the main employers being the government and the parastatal entities, today, job mobility is the order of the day, thus on-going training and life-learning programmes are much more sought after than two decades ago. Besides, workers are becoming more adventurous seeking pastures new to advance in their positions even while they are still gainfully employed. ETC has given the opportunity to thousands of workers to do so.

With six offices throughout our islands, the ETC is easily accessible to everyone and this decentralisation is proof of its aim to be at the job seeker’s service in as many ways as possible. All in all, the ETC is proof that the government’s vision is to create as much opportunities for work as possible. In the upcoming months it plans to focus on the youth sector to better identify the needs of first-time job seekers and to plan according to these needs. Programmes such as the community work scheme and those carried out in the Youth Employment Centre are just two examples of the initiatives that are intended to help those seeking employment and further training.

I have no doubt that under the guidance of chairman Sandra Sladden, the ETC will continue to be the largest provider of trained workers on the island while offering guidance, assistance and help to job seekers.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.