The Church's Pastoral Commission on Work has expressed its disappointment at the government's recent decision to allow commercial establishments to open on public holidays which fall on a Sunday.
In a statement, the commission said it had always insisted that Sunday was the day of the Lord, a day of rest, a day to spend with the family and a social day.
As a result of this decision, public holidays were to become for many workers normal days of work resulting in less time for rest and for themselves.
The commission said it knew that Maltese society was changing but values, culture, traditions and beliefs should be treasured and not sold out. The Maltese lifestyle was changing and what was significant to the Maltese from a religious, cultural and social aspect was also changing.
It said that work was important - for the people to be able to contribute to society, for the Church, because through work a better world would be built, and for the family.
However, public holidays were there for workers to find time for themselves, their families, their beliefs and their social life.
Sunday, the commission said, was a right and not a priviledge. It was a right which had been safeguarded and which workers had fought for. And now it was being denied to so many workers.
It asked whether workers would be able to refuse to work on Sunday because of their beliefs or if they were going to be made to work. It clarified, that it was only referring to work that could wait.
The decision which had been taken, the commission said, was not in the best interest of workers and it encouraged Christian employers to respect their beliefs and their workers.
Pointing out that it believed that the intention behind the decision was a good one, both because of the economical aspect and also because of the current way of life, the commission said it had to highlight the importance that before decisions were taken everyone should be consulted, including people with different ideas, for the best decisions to be taken for workers and their families.