Courageous stand for workers’ rights

We support the position taken by the General Workers’ Union in the national conference where the delegates voted unanimously in favour of the motion calling for an increase in the minimum wage and to fight precarious work. Increasing the minimum wage will ensure an improvement in the standard of living and more social justice.

Żminijietna urges the government to ensure that public tenders include work conditions as important criteria for selection. The government should also increase its enforcement mechanisms to ensure that working conditions, as set by law, are respected. Various anomalies in work legislation should also be amended. These include legislation on recognition of trade unions and legislation regarding the industrial tribunal, which excludes public sector employees. It will be a good thing if the Malta Employers’ Association encourages these owners to respect the workers’ rights.

Up to now, only the GWU, Alternattiva Demokratika and the Malta Communist Party have taken a clear position in favour of an increase in the minimum wage. We call upon other parties to also take this position.