Exploitation of care workers contracted to work in state hospitals and homes for the elderly can only be curbed if the government employs them directly, according to two trade unions.
It was difficult to convince them to speak up during the inquiry for fear of losing the job
“If the government is really serious about putting an end to exploitation at work the only way is to employ workers directly rather than go through a company,” General Workers’ Union general secretary Tony Zarb told The Sunday Times.
His counterpart within the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, Gejtu Vella, was of the same opinion, saying: “If the government, being the model employer, employs them directly there will be maximum security,”
In the absence of this, he added, the government must ensure there were effective checks and balances in place to protect contracted workers from abuse.
Support Services Ltd holds the government tender to supply care workers for Mater Dei, St Vincent de Paul and Karin Grech hospitals.
In May, Labour MP Marie Louise Coleiro Preca pointed out that a number of the contracted care workers were being underpaid and exploited.
On Friday evening, the government published the conclusions of a board of inquiry which found that the policy to award contracts to the cheapest bidder, coupled with “administrative inaction”, resulted in a situation where contracted care workers were exploited because they received lower pay than other employees.
The board recommended that the 1977 regulations governing work conditions of contracted workers be reviewed and that future tenders ought to take into account the relationship between the company and workers.
Ms Coleiro Preca said the board’s report was not enough to address the problems faced by workers as it did not go into compensation due to those who had suffered exploitation.
She said it was difficult to convince these workers to speak up during the inquiry for fear of losing their job.
During the inquiry, the board noted that contracts signed by Support Services Ltd were compliant with law; however, the fact remained that several workers filed complaints – some of which were justified.
A spokesman said the government was analysing the inquiry report and steps would be taken accordingly.
He said the government was living up to its electoral promise to curb any abuse of contracted workers, as various measures had been taken in recent years.
Contractors providingcleaning, care and security services were no longer allowed to sub-contract.
New contracts included aproviso whereby the winning bidder was obliged to observe the law on workers’ conditions.
The Department for Industrial and Employment Relationswas carrying out spot checksto ensure workers were notbeing asked to register as self-employed.
The department was also reviewing the relevant law to further strengthen the rights of workers, the spokesman said.