Plug loopholes and declare overmanning illegal

The Air Malta saga, like many others before it, has once again highlighted the problem of overmanning in government departments and its organisations. I can write with a certain authority as, in my little way, I had been involved in such tricky problems. There are many reasons for this state of affairs.

Firstly, all administrations have misused the employment situation. There are still many ways of how to circumvent Employment and Training Corporation and labour laws.

On the approach of an election, many candidates, more so ministers, start to panic. After five years they are brought back to their senses in that they would not have kept their spurious promises. How do you provide employment to your supporters? Jobs do not grow on trees. Therefore, the party in government and many of the deputies (including of the opposition) start by putting pressure on parastatal organisations and even the private sector to increase their labour force, even if the said organisations would already have been overstaffed.

Secondly, some managers, and also the board of directors, finding themselves with their backs against the wall with pressure from their superiors, would be at a loss what to do with the surplus manpower, many of whom would not have any (proper) qualifications or experience. The majority take the easy way out by not providing any suitable work and assigning employees to do jobs that are already being done properly.

But overmanning has its psychological repercussions. Scrounging and lazing about affects even the best workers. Why should one work when others are lazing about, playing cards or, worse, playing truant?

Idle time brings with it the dangerous situation of gossip, provocation and pressure on others not to give a full day’s work.

Thus, instead of improving efficiency, overmanning will result in lower production and lack of competence.

Some organisations try to invent additional activities but at short notice some of these might not have been properly researched, financed and planned with the result that these turn into lame ducks.

I have never been in favour of certain labour corps such as Il-Pijunieri, Dirgħajn il-Maltin, Baħħar u Sewwi, etc. but, at least, these, although very inefficient, did not play havoc with functional organisations.

At the end of the day, there is always a limit of how many persons any organisation can absorb before the bubble bursts.

Why should the employees suffer?

Politicians have a habit of hiding behind the board of directors who do exactly what had been imposed on them. It is logical that alternative employment should be provided, although, unfortunately, this has not always been the case.

Therefore, I suggest that, even though only a few parastatal and semi-autonomous organisations (quangos) still exist, Parliament should legislate to make it absolutely impossible to circumvent the employment laws. All loopholes should be plugged.

I would venture to suggest that any pressure, subtle or direct, by any official should be declared to be a serious crime, even if this originates from a minister or ministry.

Will they legislate? I earnestly hope they do and soon.