Opposition calls for fine-tuning by ETC

Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca called for fine tuning in the work performed by the ETC because of instances where unemployed persons were unjustly struck off the unemployment register.

Persons suffering from asthma were struck off because they did not accept work as cleaners in enterprises where bleaches and detergents were present and were profiled as refusing work. People with severe mental health problems and others suffering from acute back pain had to forcibly attend courses in order to continue registering for work.

Turning to the care workers contract issue, Mrs Coleiro Preca said these workers were ready to give evidence if they were given protection. The government was encouraging precarious work because the hourly rate work during public holidays was not according to legally-established conditions of work.

Other obscenities included people who started to work in January but were registered as regular employees by their employer after six months.

ETC inspectors also failed to find instances where workers were engaged on trial for one week and were not paid. On the contrary where workers were found working illegally they were not only struck off the register but even the family was deprived of social assistance pending decisions from the National Employment Authority which often took six months.

Mrs Coleiro Preca said that job advisers had to be conscious of real situations and called for fine tuning of the system.

Labour MP Justyne Caruana said the unemployment rate in Gozo was most acute among the long-term unemployed representing 33 per cent of those registering for work.

She claimed that unemployment was critical among the 25- to 29-year-olds as 14.4 per cent of those registering for work in Gozo came from this age bracket when this rate stood at 10.6 per cent in Malta.

15.8 per cent of those registering for work in Gozo were between 20 and 24 years old when in Malta this figure decreased to 9.9 per cent of the unemployed. 31.8 per cent of the unemployed were between 30 and 44 years old. This figure was similar to that registered in Malta.

Labour MPs Stefan Buontempo, Silvio Parnis, and Charles Mangion also contributed to the debate.