Parkers welcome news of reform

Mario Camilleri

Oct 31st 2011, 13:54

- A middle-aged parker said the “donation” offered by clients barely covered his family’s basic needs. “Being a car park attendant is not an easy task. We have no public convenience and nowhere to shelter. We’re also constantly thinking up ways of managing the continuous influx of cars,” he said. - What a laugh!! Imsieken!!

Sewwa mela dawn qed jippretendu li jien immur għal ġurnata xogħol biex naqla l-paga biex nitma l-familja u magħhom irrid ngħajjex 'parker'.

Darba kont l-Imdina u malli pparkjajt, l-parker ġie jiġri jitlobni l-flus. Meta għidtlu li nagħtih malli nerġa lura, ma riedtx. Meta staqsejtu kemm ried għax b'€0.50c ma kkuntentax, talabni €1u qalli l-anqas, tajtu u tlaqt. Meta ġejt lura waqaft ftit bogħod u qadt insegwi. F'temp ta' siegħa u nofs dan qala madwar €32 bil-karozzi jinbiddlu u dan ma' tul il-ġimgħa għax bejn is-Sibt u l-Ħadd ara kemm jinbidlu karozzi.
Mela nerġgħu niġu għat-tħul, fi tlett siegħat dan jaqla madwar €60 (Lm25) u jien indaħħal €32 ta' ġurnata xogħol u minnhom irrid inħallas il-bolla u t-taxxa, kif ukoll ngħajjex parker. Hekk sewwa!!!

Is-sabiħa hija li dawn ma jħallsux tal-propjeta li minnha qed jiġbru l-flus. U mhux billi ntqal li ma jkollomx faċilitajiet, għax wara 3/4/5 siegħat jew jitilqu jew jinbidlu. Lin-nies jiddrawhom u wara ċertu ħin ma tarahomx għax ma jkunx aktar vijabli li jibqgħu hemm. Hekk jew hekk ikunu qalgħuha tajjeb il-ġurnata. U ara ma jfettillekx tidħlilhom fl-għalqa.

Mr Neville A Cassar

Oct 31st 2011, 10:20

All those who went to pay respect at the Addolorata Cemetary over the weekend, received a nice surprise with the Parker at the exit... sticking his arm out just before you get on the main road.

Needless to say blocking the cars by standing in the middle of the road... to catch your attention.

Try going to a funeral at the Addolorata.... you always find a parker. Ridiculous!

Try going to a rugby game at Korradino.... you always find a parker. This is harassment !

John Citizen

Oct 30th 2011, 20:07

The general reaction is obvious; no one perceives the services of parkers as a necessity. There are other ways and means to control parking by for example the pay and display as provided in other countries.

Income by parkers goes undeclared and continue to contribute to black economy which does reflect well for this country. Indeed Malta has lately ranked as one of the worst performing EU member state with regard to black economy.

This is an opportunity for the authorities to take control of the situation and eliminate all these flagrant abuses once and for all.

R. Gauci

Oct 30th 2011, 19:13

Naf x'se jigri, se jinstab kuntrattur tal-qalba, jinghata kuntratt tajjeb biex dan isib 4 parkers u jhallashom mizerja, l-istess kif qed isir fl-isptar ml-cleaners, security u sahansitra anke nurses barranin.

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Oct 30th 2011, 08:24

I am wondering if any of these licensed (and unlicensed) parkers are collecting unemployment benefits as well.

Am I the only one wondering about this?

Raymond Sacco

Oct 30th 2011, 07:47

if parking areas are alotted through tenders in future, rest assure that companies such as the one in charge of mater dei parking will take over every parking slot on the island! if so, we all know the parking fees we're going to start paying then! these companies can easily afford to submit a higher bid to the tender. they can get even with the high cost parking and cheap labour they specialize in!

Joe Fenech

Oct 29th 2011, 23:56

Parkers are worse than useless. Get CCTV's and someone to monitor them.

Mike Abbot

Oct 29th 2011, 21:46

"We’re also constantly thinking up ways of managing the continuous influx of cars"
what?!? now you are just making things up to sound credible.

At the end of the day, our livelihood depends on the donation our clients make,”

clients... that would suggest I have a choice about being your client.. clearly, when i turn up to a PUBLIC space to park i have NO choice but to pay you. As far as i can see the only service you render in return for payment is to not give me a dirty look or throw verbal abuse at me.

George J. Marshall

Oct 29th 2011, 21:17

Jidher li hemm xi kumpanija/i li lesti jew jixtiequ li jmexxu dawn il-parking slots
Money no problem, golden hand shake lill parkers prezenti and histroy repeats itself

George J.

Rodnick Abdilla

Oct 29th 2011, 20:56

I see this as another way for the government to get money out of the citizen. Today the tip to car park attendents is a gratuity but now it seems that it will become mandatory. Let's see how much the fare will be.

Franceska Micallef

Oct 29th 2011, 20:16

il-kummenti li qed thallu huma kollha bla sens!!

1. no VAT is required to be paid as it is 'a donation' --> ittih kemm trid int u mhux bil-hin... allura ircevuta mhemx bzonna
2. nipreferi ikun hemm parker fej jien nista inhalli ic-cavetta.. halli jekk ma jkunx hemm parking ma nahlix hin indur ghal-parking
3. jekk ikun hemm parker, ma jkun hemm abbuzi minn xi nies li jiehdu parking ta zewg karozzi ghax ma jkun ipparkja sew! ghal-parker.. jekk karozza tkun iparkjata sew, ma jkunx hemm hela ta parkings.. specjalemnt issa fej iktar ma jmur iktar jonqsu il-parkings!!!

ghal-kull haga nitkazaw madoff!! araw il-vantaggi qabel ma tlabalbu...

jekk jithlu il-machines jew xi tip ta timing iehor.. ser ikolkom thalsu iktar... jekk inhallas 1 euro lil parker.. nista ndum il-gurnata kollha iparkjata hemm.. mentri jekk jithlu il-machines ikolli inhallas hafna izjed ghal gurnata shiha!!

Steve Sant

Oct 29th 2011, 20:10

I smell election mode, even the state departments have recently been employing and promoting. Roads being re-surfaced, lots of works to be ready by 2013. What a usual bunch of salesmen, unbelievable.

G.A. Peplow

Oct 29th 2011, 19:55

Great!!! We are all complaining and takin it against these parking attendants. Well .... at least with the parking attendants we used to pay not more then Euro 1 to park in a parking area....... with the new reform am sure that we will need to fork out much more!!!!

Steve Sant

Oct 29th 2011, 19:49

I agree, what do we need parkers for, many of them actually damage cars if not properly tipped. And nowadays anything under 1 euro is deemed rubbish and they might not let you in the next time. Its a form of bullying, and many of the parkers are located on public property, some earns thousands a year and claim poverty. I know one parker who subsidises his drug habit and this costs him almost 50 euro a day. He can afford it. Remove them, they're like jellyfish, they look harmless but they sting.

M Cassar

Oct 29th 2011, 19:45

And why exactly can't the pay and display system be implemented in Malta? Why are some protected from issueing receipts and paying taxes?

Joseph Vassallo, (Bugibba)

Oct 29th 2011, 18:42

"What worried them, however, was that they might lose their only source of income."

Then they will have to take a proper job instead of an unofficial one where they sit on a soapbox and hold their open palm out for "alms", pleading poverty.


"Some had even proposed giving up their parker’s licence and be compensated financially."

What? They are expecting a redundancy payment out of my taxes when they had no right to occupy the site in the first place?

How did this start anyway? Who gave them a "parker's licence" if such a thing exists? And what was the criteria for such a qualification?

It used to cost a thruppence tip [€0.03 approx] to park all day in Valletta or anywhere else. Last August, I parked for about 90 minutes [near the chalet] in Sliema and when I gave the attendant all the change I had [about €0.80] I received a sarcastic "Hiss! Erga ejja ta' ". It made me wonder who he has to pay for the privilege of have a prime site all to himself and without expenses for anything. Well, I mean, they are not exactly hi-tech, are they?

I used to wonder if they had to pay politicians a backhander for protection from invaders but I think that is highly unlikely, although let's face it, some of them can probably afford to do so because they look like they are collecting (OOPS! I nearly said earning) at least three or four times the minimum wage but are never there to tell you who damaged your car [presumably because the other guy tipped them handsomely for their silence].

It is legalised begging, as far as I can see. But a tidy lump sum is all they are after so, maybe they will get it and then they can flaunt it like others before them. By the way, if they are expecting money out of the public purse, how much have they been contributing in their yearly self-assessments?

Mario P. Sciberras

Oct 29th 2011, 18:37

WHY do we need parking attendants??? They are a nuisance and reflects badly on us. The next thing you know we will have lift attendants pressing the bottoms for us.
What we need is clearly marked parking spaces and regular checks from wardens to "educate" us to park between the lines.

mark borg

Oct 29th 2011, 18:37

Get rid of these leaches. What divine right has anyone on any piece of public land?? Get rid of them and sue each and every one of them to settle the tax due to society. I know it would be impossible to calculate exactly but certain systems, like calculated on a number of years could be adapted to get back what these people own to society. Regarding the tendering, this is another case of a government that is like an octopus that fed on its own fingers! Soon if possible he would get into human trafficking, to get some any of revenue !

Etienne Borg

Oct 29th 2011, 18:12

They work on public land and we don't need them. The only ask for money and nothing else. And for what we pay them to sit on a stool..............

Henry Mifsud

Oct 29th 2011, 18:11

So the majority of the car park attendants are represented by the secretary of the UHM's manufacturing, IT and private sector section. This is really confusing as none of them manufactures anything, is remotely connected to IT and all of them are deriving income from public land (not private) for their sole benefit.
Now for the joke of the year: "A middle-aged parker said the “donation” offered by clients barely covered his family’s basic needs." Where on earth does anyone earn money without any capital outlay whatsoever, from income which is paid on compulsory conditions and no tax is paid on the said income.
Go tell it to the marines!

carlos ellul

Oct 29th 2011, 18:03

Dont worry guys. The person behind this new reform is Austin Gatt, the brain behind Arriva and Smart City. Its not as if we'll be paying loads of money for a well wrapped 3rd rate service wouldn't we?

jesmond zammit

Oct 29th 2011, 17:40

Ara veru ma fadallhomx minn fejn jivvintaw johorgu tenders biex ipaxxu lill-hbieb dawn !!! Issa anki mal-parkers qabdu!!

joseph gaffarena

Oct 29th 2011, 17:36

A park attendant is an easy money earning job.
Some park attendants demand money in advance, and sometimes after returning in half an hour you will not find him there.
This so called job is like a goose that lay the golden eggs.

Theresa Bartolo Parns

Oct 29th 2011, 17:16

I can only say that the car park attendants in the Sliema ferries area work very hard, are polite and keep many more cars than would be able to park if there was a pay and display system. With the recent reduction in parking in this area I certainly would not like to see this change! These guys seem to be the only ones who are doing anything efficiently when it comes to Sliema parking!

Aristide Galea

Oct 29th 2011, 17:15

It's very easy to regulate the sector ,GET RID OF THEM ,we don't need them . If it is a public parking ,we don't have to pay to park on our own public property . We are allready paying the road licence , and all the other taxes that are inflicted on us by this government . The government is responsable to create parking spaces and not abdicate from his responsability , and give away all that is public to the prvate sector .
Last week I went to Gnejna Bay , parked properly in one of the parking bays without the help of any parker . There was a person which I presume was the parker , talking to another person on the other side of the parking place , some 50 mts away .
After about 10 minutes , I was going to leave , the parker came rushing to me and asked for his payment .
I , asked the parker If this place was his private property . He said that it is public . So , my reply was , if it is public I have every right to make use of this place without having to pay for what is mine as part of the public . I refused to pay , and went on my way .
These parking attendents are all persons who refuse to find a proper job , because they knew that they can make quite a lot of money without having to lift a finger and without declaring their income and so it is very easy to evade paying there taxes .
Do as I did , and fight for yours rights . You don't have to pay for what is yours .

Paul Camilleri

Oct 29th 2011, 17:15

An ordinary parker in charge of an area capable of parking 100 vehicles gets a minmimum of 200 Euros a day let alone the charges raised for car washes at 3 Euros (?) each. Such income would increase considerably if not doubled, if parking space is taken up by other car owners who turn up later on during the day. An income in excess of 60,000 Euros annually , working on a six day week basis without incurrring any expenses to make such profit.

Do parkers report such income when drawing up their income Tax returns? If they consider themselves as giving a service to car owners, do they have to issue a Vat receipt or are they Income Tax and Vat Exempt. Are these parkers registered with the Inland Revenue Department?

Irene Forster

Oct 29th 2011, 16:58

I think if the person responsible reads these comments, he will find how much they are appreciated and required. ZERO

A Camilleri

Oct 29th 2011, 16:48

I don't need parking assistance. The Rear view mirror and the electornic parking sensors are more than enough, thank you very much.

Denis Degabriele

Oct 29th 2011, 16:28

may be you park again next morning if you try to move from the parking area with out given some tips to the Parker, what do you thing my friend the Parker.

debbie Voss

Oct 29th 2011, 16:23

TM please takenote of a selfmade parking attendent inthe disused public area in Qawra. He DEMANDS one euro and has his two very young children do the job.

Noel Busuttil

Oct 29th 2011, 16:23

I couldn't believe it when I read "Being a parking attendant is not an easy task!"
Have these people ever worked a real job? LOL

Also, the government could solve this whole problem by installing parking machines like they have in modern countries like Canada, where you would park your car, pay a fee for a ticket attached to a time limit and leave the ticket on the dashboard. Then all you need is a security person or warden or whatever we want to call him monitor the parking lot to ensure everyone paid for the parking. This way Government revenue can be controlled.

Carmel Cilia

Oct 29th 2011, 16:22

Park attendants give nothing back to government not even issue a receipt. This is 100% correct, but did it need to take us decades to realise this. The government has really today become one big tax collecting machine; and an efficient one at that: well one can only say well done if at least these same taxes do not go the bad way round: like the 400 thousand euros given for nothing in the case of the public transport reform.

Denis Degabriele

Oct 29th 2011, 16:20

may be you park again next morning if you try to move from the parking area with out given some tips to the Parker, what do you thing my friend the Parker.

colin wilcox

Oct 29th 2011, 15:47

this is the only country i been to were people just take over
public land and start there own business it use to be the
public toilets get a chair and start taking money

Michael Bugeja

Oct 29th 2011, 15:42

Parkers are not needed at public (government owned)areas,why should we pay them ,after all, if something happens to my car ,they're not responsible. every parker charges differently, eg. in Sliema ,st Julian area they seem to charge much more than other areas. For christ sake give the motorist a break ,bizejjed ghandu xi hallas, ha tkissru l-kullhadd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alfred Fenech

Oct 29th 2011, 15:35

Car park attendants are a thing of the past. Come out with parking meters and do away with attendants.
More tax to the Govt. and less arguments with attendants.

Christopher Micallef

Oct 29th 2011, 15:17

Parking attendants are not needed in public parking places. It's ridiculus to park in public places for free but you have to pay the parkers because they have just decided to occupy that space! Do these parkers have a regular permit to stay there as I'm sure that most of them do not? And what about the regular ones, do these receive a salary from government? Because if so, we should be aware so that in such case we do not need to feel guilty if we do not give them tips. And it is a shame that if we do not pay them good tips, they can scratch our cars! These people are there to collect money (if one makes a rough estimate i'm sure most of them earn hundreds of euros everyday) for nothing as we have to find a place, park and leave our car at our own risk. I hope such reform is done and quickly so at least if we need to pay money for using public space, the money is collected from government and not from such tax evaders. However, I hope that the charge rates would be reasonable.

Miriam Spiteri

Oct 29th 2011, 15:13

There is no use whatsoever of having these car park attendants. The issue shouldn't be regularising them but removing them.

Ivan Cocker

Oct 29th 2011, 14:34

I would like to read especially from the grumblers down here when the 'fixed' parking rates shall be presented. No one is saying how much these are gonna be, considering the charges in Private CarParks and ex-Park n Ride, will the rate be similar? I am already guessing that we might start recalling that the old habit of tipping is better then paying the full charge expected by the Gov and TM!

Lets face it with a new tariff, we the patrons are we gaining anything? Are they building car shelters or cleaner areas and decent parking slots, are the parking areas gonna be secured with CCTVs ... I guess no, so what is this all about, only additional charges to look modern ... consider the workers that have to use parking areas especially in Valletta on a daily basis, that is extra cost for nothing in return ...

Continue like this and we are probably heading for the Second Silent City ...

Ms D. Borg

Oct 29th 2011, 14:16

This is a ridiculous situation. These so called parking attendants occupy public land with the blessing of the govt and of a union. This is public land, it belongs to everybody and we don't need parking attendants and worse still having to pay them for doing nothing.

Adrian Sacco

Oct 29th 2011, 14:06

I have long held the opinion that these people are little, sorry nothing more than beggers in a peaked cap. They home in on K-plate cars like flies on a turd, hoping to fool innocent tourists into parting with their money for a non-existent "service". I have had my share of encounters, partly because having grown up in Britain their first (incorrect) assumption is that I am "Ingliz" and fair game to be duped, on account of my accent. I find that shrugging and walking away with a friendly wave is the best plan.

Joseph N. Attard

Oct 29th 2011, 14:05

Why do we not have a Pay and Display system in every car park, as exists in every civilized country? One pays for as long as one stays, no hidden untaxed earnings for anybody, and no looming threat of car scratches if one does not pay over the odds. No "reserved" spaces for those who can pay good money, either. And what about parking meters? The mentality that owning a car is cheap has to change sometime.

Richard Galea

Oct 29th 2011, 14:05

I had my car scratched by a parking attendant....because he expected more than I could give him....As he said my car stayed too long in his domain....

chris bugeja

Oct 29th 2011, 13:54

public parking is public parking.nobody should be allowed to exercise a right over something which is public.

Mike Abbot

Oct 29th 2011, 13:45

the reform needs to specify exactly what we, the public, get from paying parking attendants.

It should be security, but in actual fact they carry zero responsibility for the safety of our parked cars and i really, really do not need help parking my car. Car parks are simple, there either is or isn't a space available - nothing to work out. They are also doing this on public land, in other words, land paid for by my tax payments. Some might call them free loaders. (most parking attendants i've come across are perfectly polite but that doesn't change anything)

So, if they don't actually do anything, don't own the parking lot - what am i paying them for? being nice? If the government reform keeps them there 'as is' but takes a share of a standardised parking fee... they do, in effect, transform from free loaders to tax collectors.

If, however, they became security guards who become responsible for the safety of our cars, then that changes everything. If not, then just stick ticket machines in every car park and be done with it.

Steven Agius

Oct 29th 2011, 13:26

Paying parkers to park on public land (which means it is ours as much as it is theirs) should be abolished. Remove them once and for all, there are amny productive jobs they can take up.

Wilfred Galea

Oct 29th 2011, 12:48

What's the role of parking attendants actually? What service do they give?

Jurgen Farrugia

Oct 29th 2011, 12:34

The parking areas should not be given to parkers but to security companies. That's a reform because a security is paid and is responsible for those cars. And security companioes in Malta now a days employ a lot of people and more people will be employed by then. Today securities have to attend a course and sit for an exam so there is some kind of sense of security. These Parkers won't give a damn about our cars,and all they care is about tips. I don't give tips because they do not deserve them.

G. Portelli

Oct 29th 2011, 12:18

It is either public parking or not. This stupid situation can onbly be found on this piece of rock in the middle of nowhere. Just put parking meters and that's all otherwise leave the space free without anyone 'looking after' your car. One parker used to tell me that if I pay him my car is in safe hands until the first time that I forgot my wallet. On arriving home I found my car scratched from front to back. Mur afda eh!

Chris Sammut

Oct 29th 2011, 12:12

Parking attendant is there to take your money............and that s it! Forget it that he s going to take care of your car!! You might go back to pick your car up and you won't find him there anymore!! So introduce the pay machines and come on let's go!!!

Kevin Camilleri

Oct 29th 2011, 12:07

Why on earth do we need parkers? They just tell you park there in that parking bay... and than they open their hand to give them tips. Sorry... but if it is public parking, why do I need a parker? I can find an empty parking space myself, I'm not blind thank God!

E. Azzopardi

Oct 29th 2011, 11:47

Car park attendants are more often than not arrogant. They "demand'' money and no please and thank you. Once you give them the money, they do not recognize you or your car any longer. Are these people trained before "given" jobs? It seems not.

E Gatt

Oct 29th 2011, 11:41

This has been going on for ages. Parkers are providing a ‘service’ that most of us do not need or ask for. Transport Malta should simply disallow these so called parkers. If this results in social problems for these parkers, then this should be dealt with separately, and not at the expense of car drivers.

Here is a link to an old page of the timesofmalta.com
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20030903/local/no-obligation-to-tip-car-park-attendants.142038

“ Motorists are not obliged to tip car park attendants and there is no minimum amount of money to be given as a gratuity - irrespective of their demands, the Malta Transport Authority said.

It is unlawful for a car park attendant to request to be tipped or, worse still, expect and demand a minimum tip from motorists.

Cases where individuals posing as parkers demand a minimum amount of money is not a rarity. Some motorists have also claimed that their vehicle was vandalised by parkers who felt a tip was not enough. “

Joseph Camilleri

Oct 29th 2011, 11:35

Ever heard of parking metres!? Why do we have to complicate things in this country! In public car parks here should be parking metres just like there is in all major European cities!

Franco Ebejer

Oct 29th 2011, 11:30

Jungle style free country!!! Hekk konna hu hekk nibqaw u min ikun hemm fil gvern jiehu vantag mil injuranza ta nies biex jimla butu!

alfred seguna

Oct 29th 2011, 11:25

Viva John Bundy and his more then true song ,Pajjiz tal Mi.... Mo...!!!!!!!!!

Richard Hubbard

Oct 29th 2011, 11:24

Why not just install parking meters or pay machines and set a rate per the time ie €1 for the first 2 hours and so on. this would solve all the problems and disputes, just have someone going round to check that tickets were in time and not expired and if they were issue penalties.

Carl Debono

Oct 29th 2011, 11:23

Once i was talking with a relative of a car park attendant in Valleta. He told me that they can earn as much as a 1000 euro a day!!!!!!

Patrick Zammit

Oct 29th 2011, 11:20

I do not need an attendant to park my car, thanks, but no thanks.

Mr John Montague

Oct 29th 2011, 11:13

Who needs parkers in the first place. Let's wise up for a change. Properly managed areas, with automated systems, cctv, etc.

Do it properly!

Robert Zammit

Oct 29th 2011, 11:12

Well all that government should do it mark parking bays and put parking meeters up just like everywhere else in the world !!! that way it gets all the revinue , normally those parking pay a tot per hour from 7am to 7pm and free parking the rest of the hours

Chris Borg

Oct 29th 2011, 11:10

Thats What I called EASY MONEY.......WE DONT NEED THEM

Mr Duncan Scerri

Oct 29th 2011, 11:08

If you cannot park a car without the help of a parker (social parasites) then you should not be behind the wheel of a car. Simple.

A car park needs only:

1. Clearly marked spaces.
2. Ticket machine.
3. CCTV.

It does not need Neanderthals expecting to be slipped some silver that they'll never declare in taxes. These people are already breaking the law and the police do what they always do: Sweet FA.

David Farrugia

Oct 29th 2011, 11:06

These parking attendants deserve a living however I am skeptical how responsible these attendants can be if your car gets damaged during their 'jurisdiction'. Regulation is paramount however this reform lies under Mr. Austin Gatt I already envisage that this task is doomed already - I hope I am wrong.

frank grech

Oct 29th 2011, 11:04

Dear Minister,
This is part of the underground economy that Malta is famous for!!!!!!
Get rid of these leeches as soon as possible!
Tell the to get a REAL job!

vella m

Oct 29th 2011, 11:04

Some Parker's had even proposed giving up their parkers licence and be compensated financially,LOL, this is becoming a habit in Malta. Bus drivers gave up their bus for a huge sum of money, then we had dockyard workers giving up their job for a sum of money. Air Malta is in the process of the golden hand shake, Malta com workers as well, act. act act. E io pago!

Carmel Farrugia

Oct 29th 2011, 11:02

Another much needed reform headed by Austin Gatt after the PBS, Sea Malta, IT, Motor Hearses, Taxis, Public Transport etc. Keep up the good work in spite of all the critisicm you get you are the only Minister that has the guts to carry out the much needed reform this country needs.

Schembri Ray

Oct 29th 2011, 10:59

Parking attendants are not needed in public parking places. It's ridiculus to park in private parking for free and you pay for public parking! These people are there to collect money (hundreds of euros) everyday for nothing as we have to find a place, park and leave our car at our own risk.

Clive Gerada

Oct 29th 2011, 10:47

There is one solution if you do not want them to curse you... give them 1c euro tip.

Alfred Fenech

Oct 29th 2011, 10:43

Its rediculous that car parker attendants are there only for the money. . No responsibility what so ever. Most of these are employed as a favour to some minister or other. Wardens on the other hand are too keen to issue citations whether real or unreal acts of contraventions are involved. Its another form of taxation and another burden to the tax payer. Every year the system collects more money that it can justify.
Personaly I would rather put my car in a proper car park, similar to that of Sliema and Floriana.

W Cassar

Oct 29th 2011, 10:36

We don't need car park attendants, I never tip because they don't offer any added value to where I park. If the government wants to get revenue from public parking areas it should install meters. These attendants are from a by gone age, get rid of them they offer no help are a nuisance!

S. BONAVIA

Oct 29th 2011, 10:32

darba wassalt liz-zija,mara anzjana l-poliklinic tal mosta biex tiehu l-injection ta kontra l-influenza bqat fil-karozza nistennija u qisu wara 10 mins reget giet u konna ha nitilqu,gie l-parker u talghabni 1 euro,jien edtlu li mhux se ntieh ghax ma pparkjajtx l-karozza u tlaqt imma bqajt go fiha,ir-risposta kienet"nirrak tahbat u titfarrak"ahna ma rridux dat tip ta attegjament go pajjizna specjalment mat turisti,u xi nejdu ghal parking tal gnejna,post fejn t-turisti l-hin kollhu jigu mitluba l-flus habba l-parking sa anki fit-triq li hi propjeta tal-gvern!Wara kollox hadd minnhom ma jtik ircevuta tal vat u hadd mhu resposabbli jekk jinqala xi haga lil karozza tieghek.Ghalhekk wasal z-zmien biex issir xi haga ghal dan l-abbuz.

James Vella

Oct 29th 2011, 10:29

They earn a very good income for being arrogant, doing nothing and not declaring their income

Franco Abela

Oct 29th 2011, 10:29

mr austin gatt.. before you step down please make sure you also ruin the very few parking facilities valletta workers have left!

Nicholas Brincat

Oct 29th 2011, 10:27

This is utterly ridiculous. These people make much more than newly graduated engineers, architects, and doctors and they are barely literate. Moreover they don't pay taxes on what they earn. It's outrageous even the fact that I have to pay someone to park on public property, that is funded by my taxes. What is more unbelievable is the fact that someone is considering negotiations to give these people a permit. There is nothing to regularise, just remove them. Find an honest job like the rest of us. You are not getting any sympathy by complaining on fluctuating pays, people holding honest jobs are being fired, what about their families !!!! You are just leeches !

Franco Abela

Oct 29th 2011, 10:26

certain parkers in floriana (fosos) and valleta (central bank) claim that their parking is full when they have still empty slots. why? reserved for €5 tourists and business man!

FRANS H SAID

Oct 29th 2011, 10:26

Not all attendants are the same. Some give an essentail service, making sure that egoistic drivers do not occupy more than one bay, or hardly leave space for the next car. Although some drivers are reluctant, when the area is full, the attendant will allow the car to be parked behind other cars, so long as he has the key to move it. Many a time I left my car under his care to find it properly parked on my return. The problem is that they are not properly regulated. There are no rates of fees. BUT at the same time the idea that in Malta everythimng is free, is nonsense. Nothing is free in life. If all the drivers were careful and parked properly, parkers MIGHT not be required. I had my car scratched a number of times because the car next to me could not (or did not know how) to get out properly.

Therefore please do not generalise.

Julia Grech

Oct 29th 2011, 10:25

Nobody really needs parkers. They let you park in the place yourself and they only come for money when they see you coming back. I don't agree with the parking fees neither, with this economy who can really afford them? Fuel is expensive enough.

Philip Pryce

Oct 29th 2011, 10:24

When you give these guys 50c or one Euro, at least you know they are there and the bad guys are less likely to break into your car. The proposals will certainly cost you more money. Free or cheap parking is one of the pluses in Malta. Please don't turn it into something like the UK where you pay through the nose to park for a couple of hours.

Mr Clive Aquilina Spagnol

Oct 29th 2011, 10:24

Most of them, if not all, never give a service, let alone a good service. In the evenings they even leave before all cars are picked up by their owners...and I am not saying by 1am or 2 am....parkers in general leave by 10pm! They stand just there to pocket a tip, which collectively these amount to hundreds of euros a day. They are unskilled and their presence is not needed as they do not give a service in the end...yet they way things run in Malta allowed this racket to continue for years with parkers pocketing monthly wages far higher than a doctor working at the Emergency & Accident Department!! And to add insult to injury, their wages were allowed to be virtually tax free!! That is why overall progress in Malta registers at a slow pace compared to Norther Europe; meritocracy, logic and prioritisation are set aside for the rule of the jungle. Thumbs up to the Minister Gatt who at least seems to be aware of this parkers' plague!

Tony Berkeley

Oct 29th 2011, 10:16

It is absolutely farcical how a simple matter of car parking should require parliamentary time, and a whole plethora of rules and regulations, bringing with it issues about employment, tax issues, and a host more of red tape. It is just a matter of parking one's car and not an activity of National importance. Don't the Maltese ever look at the way other countries do things and try and adopt GOOD PRACTICE ?

Joe Scerri

Oct 29th 2011, 10:15

How much taxes do these so called attendants pay?
Why are they using public propoerty to make a business?
Where is Transport Malta, MEPA or whoever is responsible for this?

"Some had even proposed giving up their parker’s licence and be compensated financially." What cheek. If I end up without a job I get nothing so if you end up without one - tough.

Mr Kevin Zammit

Oct 29th 2011, 10:00

There are parkers that I think are giving a service but I can only think of the one in Sliema. I barely go there myself but I have no problem leaving the key in the car for him. Otherwise I agree with most of the comments below. Valletta I would rather pay at the Floriana car park than give a tip (which of course has to be at least a euro) anywhere else there are signs no need for a parker.

Christian Grech

Oct 29th 2011, 09:55

1. Why are they PUBLIC car parks if i need to pay to park in them.
2. Why do we even need park attendants who spend all day doing nothing and pretend a tip.
3. Whats the point of a parking attended when he claims that he has no responsibility if something happens to your car!!
4. And yes you are not obliged to give ia tip but you wouldn't want to park in the same parking area(once i parked in one and i didn't have small change and i didn't tip him, his answer was" Issa erga ejja iparkja darb'ohra ta!!''

Franco Farrugia

Oct 29th 2011, 09:51

Laughable! It's one of the mysteries in this country how much a parker earns in one whole day.

And then, what are the parker's responsibilities? Is he legally responsible for the cars parked in his area? These are things that should be ironed out.

And till what time do they work? Sometimes, no sooner they see their area full up, they just leave. And then, who is responsible for the cars parked?

What about uniforms for the parkers, and ID tags of their official roles?

Let us sincerely hope that the union that represents them doesn't start stamping its feet on their behalf and they are given what is rightfully NOT theirs!

Do we need parkers, anyway? That is the question.

Ramon Casha

Oct 29th 2011, 09:44

Parking attendants are not needed and not wanted. They take up public property and treat it as their own, and demand payment for doing absolutely nothing. Get rid of them.

Maria Deguara

Oct 29th 2011, 09:44

I have never really understood the purpose of having parkers!! they don't do anything most of the time anyway.. Parking has become a nightmare and you practically always have to pay wherever you go.. One particular guy in Mdina is never happy with whatever tip you give him!!

R Malia

Oct 29th 2011, 09:40

Unless the land is theirs, parkers should be removed from public land. I had one in Mdina where I gave him 50c and he told me no, it's one euro as he thought I was a foreigner as I had a rental car. I asked him for his licence and he started to swear at me in Maltese not knowing I was understanding him. I told him "Ha imur l ghassa issa" his reply was "skuzani hsibtek barrani!".. unbelievable.

Paul Micallef

Oct 29th 2011, 09:32

The only park attendants I came in touch with are those waiting at the entrance/exit of the car park and the only body movement they do is lift their arm, open the hand, close the arm and down again. Parkers in Sliema, Mdina, Floriana and Valletta earn minimum between Eu100 to Eu300 a day,

A Camilleri

Oct 29th 2011, 09:09

one car park attendant in valletta charged friends of ours on holiday 5 euro, they are on a good income if they do it with most tourists.

Noel Bartoli

Oct 29th 2011, 08:52

why do we need car park attendants if the bays are marked ? why should we pay them tips if they wont even show up to indicate where to park or help out when there's double parking ? They only show up when its time to pay them!!

joe briffa

Oct 29th 2011, 08:36

Parkers never get wage according to their tips,not true...definetly a lie,some parkers get even aggressive,irritant and threatening,
A when you tip a parker ( which is not a MUST).it goes straight to his pocket,irrelevant who or where the parker is,they have a wage and some of them do it tax free,why is Malta invested with these people like they own the place? Nobody needs these parkers,everybody knows how to park,and certainly your car is nnot in safe hands with or without parker...timlewx raskhom li il-parker ha jiehu hsieb il-karozzi taghkohom...