A private company supplying care workers to public hospitals has denied accusations that it adopted illegal and abusive working practices as alleged by Labour spokesman Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca.

The company, Support Services Ltd, was reacting to the claim that care workers employed by it were denied sick leave, maternity rights and were paid paltry hourly rates.

In a statement signed by Philip Bonnici, one of the directors, the company accused Dr Coleiro Preca of “misinformation” and “deception”.

Mr Bonnici said it was not true that care workers were paid €3.80 per hour and also denied workers were not paid for sick leave.

“In the first three months of this year the company has already paid for 1,771 hours of sick leave. Workers have also taken bereavement and marriage leave,” he said. Mr Bonnici also denied that a pregnant care worker was ever adviced to find another job as alleged by Dr Coleiro Preca and that workers who joined a trade union were made redundant.

On Thursday, Dr Coleiro Preca described the situation of care workers as “legalised slavery” and challenged the government to do something about the situation.

Support Services Ltd was engaged by the government to supply care workers at St Vincent de Paul Residence and Mater Dei and Karin Grech hospitals.