August shutdown safe for now
Concern over public sector half days
“Much has been said about summer half days enjoyed by public servants but no proof of less productivity been forwarded” – UĦM
As thousands of workers enjoy the Santa Marija holiday weekend, traditionally the peak of Malta’s mid-summer slowdown, many can almost rest assured that their annual August shutdown or seasonal half-day ‘perk’ is safe – at least for now in some sectors.
Business groups and unions stand on opposing sides of the ring on the summer issue. August is generally a dead-slow month across many countries in Europe where cities like Milan and Brussels witness an exodus as workers go on holiday and productivity plummets. But can the continent still afford to switch off for a season or a month as competing regions up the stakes on competitiveness?
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry has an issue with the half-day practice, particularly where the public sector is concerned, and reiterates its insistence that the practice needs revisiting.
“Such a system creates costs, delays and inconvenience, to the detriment of competitiveness,” the Chamber told The Sunday Times.
“Our country surely cannot afford such a luxury. Modern-day conveniences such as air-conditioning should have rendered this practice obsolete.”
The private sector, the Chamber insisted, requires the support of an efficient public service – in order for the public service to perform at its best. It must be committed to deliver value, meeting people’s needs through a result-oriented approach and seeking high levels of productivity.
The Chamber is less critical of shutdowns, although it says it would not favour a similar practice being adopted by public sector entities offering vital services to the business community and the public.
Decisions on shutdowns are made by companies which are conscious of the needs of clients, employees and other stakeholders – and in the interest of the company’s competitiveness.
“In implementing such a policy, the company would certainly choose the best timing and duration,” the Chamber pointed out. “The Chamber believes the shutdown is an instrument that can assist management in the efficient running of a business and we have no objection to a shutdown in the private sector.”
The Malta Employers Association told The Sunday Times it should be up to organisations to determine the best way to distribute working hours to satisfy their clients’ needs most effectively.
According to the MEA, companies utilise the August shutdown to use up part of the leave at a time when most of their clients are also on holiday or when services are in low demand. The association warned it would be unwise for any tourism organisation to have a shutdown in peak periods, although companies operating in the sector have a shutdown in the winter.
The major bone of contention with shorter working days in the summer is that there are cases where the issue is seen to be a condition of employment rather than a means to increase productivity.
“One cannot have cases whereby shorter working days result in a lack of service or higher cost to clients, as is the case with some government departments,” the MEA warned.
“It is a fact that more companies are abandoning the half day practice. Many companies in the private sector are phasing out shorter working days but several are retaining the summer shutdown.”
The association cited two main reasons: air-conditioning and customers expecting service during extended, rather than shorter working hours. As organisations operated in increasingly competitive working environments, both locally and internationally, they had to ensure availability of product or service to clients.
But with people taking shorter breaks more frequently was the August shutdown or summer half-days really necessary anymore or was the heat still a significant factor?
The MEA said in industries such as manufacturing and construction the soaring temperatures meant productivity fell. Besides, employees and management looked forward to spending quality time with family and friends.
Edwin Balzan, the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin’s Government Employees Section secretary, said the union considered summer working practices to be part of the family-friendly measures package.
He emphasised that employees who enjoyed half days worked extra time during the winter to earn the benefit of spending time with relatives and friends.
Asked about the effect on national productivity, Mr Balzan stressed that less than a third of public service employees were granted half days and explained that when taking into account the extra hours worked by these employees during winter, they were still working an average 40 hours a week during the calendar year. Much has been said about summer half days enjoyed by public servants but as yet no proof of less productivity been forwarded, he insisted.
Shifting of working hours was always subject to negotiations between unions and employers: when half days are eliminated, other working conditions like flexitime, teleworking and other family-friendly measures were introduced, Mr Balzan added.
The General Workers’ Union had a similar stance on local summer work practices and does not believe national productivity is affected.
Charles Vella, the union’s media executive, said that when possible and in fitting circumstances, the union worked to negotiate the practices into collective agreements, particularly as they were deemed to be beneficial to both employees and organisations.
Besides giving workers relief from the heat and allowing them to enjoy activities in their home towns, the summer shutdown allowed firms to plan seasonal production schedules and to work around periods when many employees requested time off.
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33 Comments
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J Fenech
Aug 17th 2010, 10:59
As usual, all this hate towards public service employees. Its NOT a privilege, we work extra hours for 38 weeks to earn them in the other 14. So it is practically only for a quarter of the year.
It would be unwise for the state to abolish half days just to appease to certain sectors; the measure wouldn't bring along a much needed reduction in the budget deficit. There are several other areas where the state can afford to reduce spending to acheive that aim.
And please let us be. thanks
R. Mallia
Aug 16th 2010, 08:30
hahaha fiċ-ċivil jitħallsu belli liri!!! qatt ma smajt ċajta aqwa minn din. Sieħbi tagius tidher li qatt ma ħdmit maċ-ċivil u wisq inqas rajt paga taċ-ċivil għax kieku emminni ma titkellimx hekk. Naqbel fuq il-ħames punt ta' Steve Borg - il-professjonijiet għandhom jiġi rikonoxxuti tali - ma tistax tħallas avukat daqs għalliem - imma sfortunatament dik hija s-sitwazzjoni maċ-ċivil biex nieħu eżempju. dawk belli liri??? u ma ninsewx il-kategorija klerikali li għaddejjin kważi fuq il-paga minima. Sieħbi tagius ħares waħda lilhinn minn xtutna, hemm min jasal jaqla anki 10,000 EUR fix-xahar mal-UE - DAWK BELLI LIRI!!!!!!
Lorry Saliba
Aug 16th 2010, 10:04
Nixtieq infakkar ukoll li l-haddiema fic-civil kellhom jaghmlu ezami biex ikunu jistghu jibdew jahdmu fic-civil, mhux xi grupp ta' nies priviligjeta izjed minn haddiehor.
Anthony Cardona
Aug 16th 2010, 08:27
The Malta Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry needs a good summer break and rather focusing on reducing hours it should focus on proposing a number of practical, doable and concrete measures how services can be rendered more efficiently. It is easy for someone to say “Such a system creates costs, delays and inconvenience, to the detriment of competitiveness,” my question is what is the Chamber doing to render employees' salaries similar to our competitive European neighbours? The discussion has to be balanced otherwise I suggest the Chamber to go for a dip.
Carmel Dimech
Aug 16th 2010, 07:53
Can you compare the goverment wages with the public sector? Obviously I wasn't referring to the directors and Cabinet Ministers.......No way :( Ah talking about the cabinet members they don't work all summer isn't that efficient and productive??????
Carmel Dimech
Aug 16th 2010, 08:42
I wanted to write private sector not public sector..Sorry.
S Camilleri
Aug 16th 2010, 01:21
Well..I wouldn't mind full days in summer..considering that we would be working 40 hour weeks .This means that we would be knocking off at half three all year round..not a bad deal indeed!
F B Aquilina
Aug 16th 2010, 00:02
Dak progress! Instead of bettering of working conditions we are witnessing their gradual erosion. The rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. Shame!
A. Farrugia
Aug 15th 2010, 23:03
I think the real issue here is work/life balance and the importance we give it in the context of modern society. I don't believe that life should be "work, work, work" and that's it - you only live once, and once you're six feet under, your work will be done by someone else, but your loved ones won't replace you. I think work/life balance is a question of common sense and priorities, and sometimes I feel several miss this crucial point.
Half-days might affect productivity, but life is not just about productivity after all. Think about it. One more thing - the quality of one's work shouldn't be measured by the time spent on it, but by the dedication and professionalism with which it was carried out.
Finally, in this day and age, a department doesn't necessarily have to be manned for it to render a service - that's why the government embarked on e-government initiatives. I think in the area of electronic service delivery, no one can say the government is lacking behind. Rather, I believe it's the opposite...
D.Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 21:44
Dear Employers,
I wish to remind you that most of the services that you normally need from Government departments are online. Then why are you so against the half days. If you are professional and efficient and know your priorities the half days are not even a problem. You have the option of getting/sending info to Government Departments 24 hours a day 7 days a week. You only leave those services that have to be done personally, for one reason or another. Therefore the few errands that you would be needing are few so you would have enough time to perform them
Stephen Abela
Aug 15th 2010, 20:18
Il-kumpaniji, korpi kostitwieti u l-Gvern mohhom biss biex jitkelmu fuq il-qliegh , efficjenza u servizz u qed jinsghu li l-haddiem ghandu familja , ghandu dinjita ghandu bzonn mistieh !
Billi jghamel gimgha leave f 'Awissu u jgawdi d-dinja ta' madwaru x' fiha b'daqshekk ? Qisa ha taqa d-dinja biex tiehu gurnata leave , mbghad noqghodu nghidu ghax zdidu s-separazjonijiet , mhux bil-fors xoghol , xoghol , xoghol ! biex ma nsemghux dawk li bhal issa jahdmu fuq barra f 'dik ix-xemx , mill-hdax l'hemm lanqas kelb ma trid tara barra ! U mbghad johrog xi politiku jghid li l-haddiema ghandhom drittijiet mharsa hawn Malta , IDAHKUNIEX !
T. Vella
Aug 16th 2010, 07:50
@tagius
Siehbi - skond min jithallas il-belli liri ta mal-gvern ghax min mejjet ghal qatra u min mejjet fis-sakra. Taf xi trid tghid, li il-kumpaniji kieku jistghu lil haddiem qas ihalluh imur jorqod billejl ghax ukoll izommuh xoghol. Darba u tnejn mort ghal xi interview u jghidli tahdem sa l-erbgha imma tibqa sa sebgha u ma tithallasx. U tghid mhux hekk!! Imbaghad johrog xi hadd u jghid ghax hawn is-separazzjonijiet etc. Bilfors, jekk il-bniedem qas fadallu hin biex jghix. Il-fjur ta hajtu jaghddihom maghluq ix-xoghol. Imissu jisthi is-settur privat, jisfrutta il-haddiema jaf biss u jrid igib is-settur pubbliku bhalu - bil-frusta. Ahjar tieqfu tharsu lejn bwietkom biss.
M Vella
Aug 16th 2010, 08:41
To most of you on the blog: I agree with Stephen Abela. And please this threat is not only for public service officials or for those who have shutdown in August...I'm no public service employee and see all this talking against the worker in general....have no jealousy with regards to anyone with better conditions, it's good luck to them...
We Maltese have evloved it seems in the wrong way and tend to accept everything that politicians dish out left right and centre...you touch our conditions we hit the streets!!!!! Kieku hsiebhom fil-produttivita' ha jzidu l-paga taghhom stess....dan x'doppio gioco hu?? And to the Unions pro employers: mhux hekk jaqblilkom titkellmu intom...ghadkom ma slohtuhx bizzejjed il-haddiem...fadal xi qatra x'taghsar minnu...what a mad mad world we're living in!!
D.Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 20:05
Ma nridux ninsew li dawn l-ahhar snin tnaqsu l-granet ta festi li jaqaw fil-weekend. Suppost biex tizdiet il-kumpetitivita ta' Malta (...izda nahseb aktar ghal gwadan tal-ezjendi u kull minn jhaddem). Nixtieq ikun naf jekk hux verament li zdided il-kumpetitivita bil-granet shah li tnaqsu ghad danni tal-haddiema.?!?! Fl-opinjoni tieghi bil-takkes lil haddiem ma tqawdi xejn specjalment fil-long term. Ibaghti kulhadd anki min hu bil-business ghax il-haddiem ikollu anqas spending power
tagius
Aug 15th 2010, 20:04
Jiena nahdem mal-privat...12-il siegha kuljum sajf u xitwa u ma nithallasx one cent tal-hin zejjed li naghmel! ghal nies bhali ghandhom jahdmu l-unions mhux ghal nies tal-gvern li jithallsu il-belli liri u jgibuha bi kbira ghax jaghmlu siegha zejda fix-xitwa.
F B Aquilina
Aug 15th 2010, 23:57
@ Mr Agius
Are you a member of a trade union in the first place?
Joseph Borg
Aug 15th 2010, 19:44
I am so jealous of those who work by the minute. I cannot believe there are people who still calculate the hours they work. If we want to become competitive we have to look at the work produced not at the hours spent in our offices.
A. Farrugia
Aug 15th 2010, 23:02
Some of us try to maintain a healthy balance between work and leisure mate. Accept it. If you're so jealous of those that see other things in life beyond work, then maybe you should start counting hours too. I don't believe that life should be "work, work, work" and that's it - you only live once, and once you're six feet under, your work will be done by someone else, but your loved ones won't replace you. I think work/life balance is a question of common sense and priorities, and sometimes I feel several miss this crucial point.
Half-days might affect productivity, but life is not just about productivity after all. Think about it. And one more thing - the quality of one's work shouldn't be measured by the time spent on it, but by the dedication and professionalism with which it was carried out. Finally, in this day and age, a department doesn't necessarily have to be manned for it to render a service - that's why the government embarked on e-government initiatives. I think in the area of electronic service delivery, no one can say the government is lacking behind. Rather, I believe it's the opposite...
Steve Borg
Aug 15th 2010, 19:31
Naħseb li l-Kamra tal-Kummerċ bħala priorita' imissha tara dawn is-segwenti:
1) Min iħaddem fil-privat u mhux permezz tal-Ministeri jiggarantixxi li l-ħaddiema jkollhom
il-PAGA MINIMA kif stabbilita' bil-ligi. U mhux li qed ikollna wkoll tant ħaddiema fuq xogħol prekarju, bid-dħul finanzjarju tagħhom mhux garantit.
2) Li min iħaddem fil-privat (speċjalment fl-industrija tal-bini u service providers) jiggartixxi l-ogħla livelli tas-sigurta lil ħaddiema fuq il-lant tax-xogħol
3) Li minflok jinbidlu l-ħinijiet tan-nofstanhari, jitlob lill-Gvern li d-Dipartimenti jwettqu l-programmi pprogettati ta' 'capacity building' mill-aktar fis possibli bbazzati fuq il-meritokrazija.
4) Li min iħaddem/jaħdem fil-privat iħallas il-kontribuzzjonijiet lejn l-Istat kif jagħmlu l-ħaddiema taċ-ċivil kollha li huma fuq il-PAYE (pay as you earn) u li jħallsu sal-inqas ewroċenteżmu dovut bħala taxxa.
5) Li tħeġġeġ lill-Gvern biex iżid il-pagi ta' ħaddiema fuq id-definizzjoni preċiża tal-professjoni u ħidma tagħhom ħalli jwaqqaf it-telfien tal-aqwa mħuħ (brain drain) lil pajjiżi barranin, wara li dawn ikunu tgħallmu - anki b'sussidju tal-poplu - fl-universita' u kulleġġi speċjaliżżati Maltin.
A Camilleri
Aug 15th 2010, 19:21
No matter how much Public Sector employees pack their working hoursin winter, industry in general, in such competitive circumstances, has to be open for business all the year round, each day of the year and simply does not have the luxury to just relax or reduce productivity in summer while Govt employees take their afternoons off - business and trade cannot be programmed according to the whims and wishes of Govt employees' schedules but it should be the other way round. Very stupid to think that one can cram business and trade in the winter months to make up for summer - it juis doesn't work that way, simply naive to think otherwise.
lgalea
Aug 15th 2010, 21:58
A Camilleri you are only showing your hatred for the workers. Why don't you fight to also get half days in summer and not try to take away what others have fought for and gained through their sacrifices?
A. Borg
Aug 15th 2010, 19:04
Dawk li jahdmu fuq barra huwa impossibli li tahdem wara nofsinhar fis-sajf.
R. Mallia
Aug 15th 2010, 18:49
Sur Pace Gouder qieghed tinsa fattur importantissimu: in-nofs ta' nhari mhux rigal. Il-haddiema fis-settur pubbliku jahdmu iktar sieghat fid-disa' xhur tax-Xitwa ghal tliet xhur nofs ta' nhar. Fix-Xitwa l-gurnata hija ta' disa' sieghat (7:45 - 5:15 b'nofs siegha brejk), hinijiet li ma jhallulek tista' tghid xejn mill-gurnata. Hinijiet li xorta jwasslu ghal 40 siegha fil-gimgha. Is-settur pubbliku jehtieg jgholli l-pagi biex isir iktar produttiv ghax qieghed f'sitwazzjoni ta' kwazi cheap labour li ma tincentivax il-haddiem. Ir-reazzjoni ta' kull Ewropew li s'issa ra "pay slip" tal-Gvern kienet dejjem "skandaluza"!!!!
K. Vella
Aug 15th 2010, 20:04
Sal-5.15pm ma jħallulek xejn mill-ġurnata? Mela min jaħdem dawk il-ħinijiet u iktar is-sena kollha x'missu jgħid?
R.Camilleri
Aug 15th 2010, 18:15
Il-Unions maghandhomx ihallu lil min izarmalhom dak li kisbu ghas settur tal-Gvern fil-passat (in-nofs ta'nhari) ghax dawn il-haddiema qed jahdmu ghalihom extra matul il-hin tax-xitwa. Rigward ix -shut down' dan ghandu jigi maghmul fiz -zmien ta - pajjizi ohra li ahna nghamlu negozju maghhom.
Anthony Pace Gouder
Aug 15th 2010, 15:12
Il-haddiema fis-Settur Publiku (partikolarment dawk CLERIKALI ) oltre n-nofs ta' nhari sajfin ghandhom beneficcju iehor li hemm jew m'hemmx xoghol dawn jibqghu FL-IMPIEG ghax il-post tax-Xoghol taghhom garantit mit-taxxi li jhallas il-POPLU KOLLHU !.
In-nofs ta'nhari li dawn GHADHOM QED IGAWDU joholku diskriminazzjoni KBIRA mal-haddiema l-ohra kollha Maltin u GHawdxin , li din trid tispicca !
Chris Grillo
Aug 15th 2010, 17:57
Ma rridx ninstema' antipatiku... imma meta kont mal Maltacom, in-nofs ta nhari konna nahdmuhom matul il kumplament tas-sena.
Niftakarni nispicca mill ufficju fil hamsa u kwart.... miflok fil hamsa neqsin kwart....imma worth it.
Missna naghmlu bhal Italja jew Germanja u Franza... AWISSU kollhu barra!!!!
Charmaine Chetcuti
Aug 15th 2010, 18:03
Kif qal Chris Grillo, il-haddiema tal-gvern ipattu ghan nofs ta nhari tas-sajf billi jahdmu hinijiet itwal fix-xitwa. Mhu qed jisirqu xejn. Irridu innehhu dil-mentalita li ghax haddiema tal-gvern nofs kedda. Ma nistghux nitfghu lil kulhadd f'keffa wahda. Ahna nahdmu 9 hours fix-xitwa biex fis-sajf nispiccaw saghejn qabel. Jekk jinqatghu in-nofs ta nhari imbad iridu jiqsaru il-hinijiet tax-xitwa u diga qed nimmagina in nies tgerger ghax issa fix-xitwa nahdmu inqas! Come on!!
Don Saliba
Aug 15th 2010, 18:40
Competitiveness, productivity .... work work and more work ...... the maladies of this hurried modern life. And we ended up questioning whether it is OK and "safe" (LOL) to slow down for just one month in Summer ..... lest we lose some "competitiveness and productivity"
Hey man - slow down ! Life would be much more enjoyable if we had some less modern luxuries and some more free time, say working a 30-hour week instead of 40. Do you really think that we would all die of hunger if we worked a 30-hour week?
Life is a game, not a race..... so let's slow down a bit please
D.Galea
Aug 15th 2010, 18:57
Fl-opinjoni tieghi kull sena jkun hawn diskussjoni dwar in-nofs ta nhari. Bhalma qal sewwa is-Sur Balzan in-nies tac-civil u parastatali nahdmu aktar sighat fix-xitwa biex inpatti ghas sajf. Fuq kollox hemm hafna kumpaniji igalu lin-nies taghhom ikollhom hafna mini shutdowns minbarru shutdowns li normalment jittiehdu fis-sajf u fix-xitwa.
Veru li kumpaniji jinvestu izda qed jkun aktar car li Kulma hu fic-cert li l-kumpaniji jridu biss izidu l-qliegh taghhom biss. Bhalli kieku mhux bis-sahha tal-impjegati qed jaghmlu l-qliegh!!!!
Fl-opinjoni tieghi l-azzendi kulma ghandhom bzon li jaghmlu aktar time management tajjeb u jmorru ghal qaghdi filghodu u mhux jistennew li jinqdew bil-fors wara nofs tan-nhari.
Suppost li huma professonali. Fuq kollox hafna minnhom jigi mejjunin direttament mit-taxxi taghna.
C.Busuttil
Aug 15th 2010, 19:03
@Anthony Pace Gouder
L-ewwelnett m'hemm l-ebda diskriminazzjoni ghax il-haddiema tal-gvern jahdmu matul ix-xhur l-ohra biex jaghmlu tajjeb ghan-nofs tan-nhari. Haga ohra l-haddiema klerikali li hemm mhux bizzejjed biex ilahqu max-xoghol ahseb u ara kemm jista jkun li ma jkollhomx xoghol.
Il-pubbliku ma jmurx fid-dipartimenti fix-xhur tax-xitwa ahseb u ara f'Awwissu f'dik ix-xemx u nifhem li trid tkun mignun biex f'xemx bhal din tohrog biex f'dipartiment, naf x'jien nghid ghax kont nahdem mal-gvern u llum il-gurnata ghar-rasi.
K. Vella
Aug 15th 2010, 19:07
Sur Grillo,
Kemm hawn ħaddiema mal-privat li jaħdmu sigħat sħaħ żejda kuljum u li lanqas biss jafu x'jiġifieri titħallas tal-overtime (skont il-kuntratt), aħseb u ara kemm dawk is-sigħat żejda tpattihom nofstanhari fis-sajf? U x'ċuċ hi dik in-nofs siegħa żejda kuljum fix-xitwa (mur ara kemm isir xogħol waqtha!), biex imbagħad fis-sajf mas-2pm tkun id-dar mitluq tara t-TV jew tieħu nagħsa?
U ma ndaħħkux bil-"much has been said about summer half days enjoyed by public servants but as yet no proof of less productivity been forwarded". Ejja nneħħu l-għamad u nammettu li kelma waħda biss hemm għan-nofstanhari fis-settur pubbliku: ħajm żejjed.
lzammit
Aug 15th 2010, 19:47
Sur Pace Gouder
Suppost taf x'inhuma l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xoghol tal-haddiema klerikali fis-settur pubbliku la qed tikteb fuqhom. Nimmagina li int m'intix zghir fl-eta. Ilhaqthom l-ezamijiet biex wiehed jimpjega ruhhu mal-gvern?
Jaqaw ghandek lil xi hadd li jigi minnek li kien impjegat mal-gvern u li issa spicca? Tivvintax hama man. Jidher li ghandek grudge kontra l-haddiema tal-gvern kif hrigt ghalina!!