Growing threat to workers

According to European statistics, precarious employment is becoming the norm and is increasing in an alarming manner.

Precarious employment is a continuous threat to the present and future working generations and their families. It is that type of work where there is no job security, low wages, lack of health and safety and inferior working conditions. Workers also face difficulty in making use of bank services. Such jobs include part-time employment, work on a fixed contract, self-employment and working for an agency.

The European Trades Union Council and the International Labour Organisation consider “atypical” jobs as precarious employment and are organising campaigns to raise awareness against this new culture of modern slavery brought forward by neo-liberal policies. In fact the chairman of the ETUC, John Monks, has appealed for this type of employment to be only the exception and not the rule in the European labour market.

It’s a shame that the Malta Employers’ Association, Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Industries are pushing this type of employment. Their perspectives focus more on productivity and competitiveness, while studies show that workers employed in precarious conditions are less productive due to their unstable employment and reduced job satisfaction.

This is an appeal to the government to work in conjunction with unions to suppress precariousness.