Those useless migrants?
Forgive me while I start today’s rant by pointing out the obvious. A healthy number of my Maltese compatriots choose to turn J.F. Kennedy’s famed maxim right on its tail by playing merry hell with the welfare system, the taxation loopholes, the sick leave structure and a gazillion other benefits.
The maxim I’m referring to, of course, is “ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.
Our nation has perfected the art of exploiting the establishment down to a tee. Which is why I was gobsmacked to learn that the majority of my fellow countrymen chalk down that odd spot of racism that plagues our shores to a righteous “but they’re not adding any value to our culture and economy”.
Say what?
Are you seriously telling me with a straight face that the only reason we’ve been less than welcoming with anyone who hails south of the Med is because they don’t pull their weight in society?
For those of you who missed the report, you can read it here: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120602/local/Migrants-don-t-add-any-value-to-Malta.422341. And after you finish reading it, weep.
Allow me to continue pointing out the obvious: judging by what I see on a daily basis, the immigrants who land in Malta seem like an incredibly hard-working bunch.
They’re the ones who don’t turn up their noses at the menial jobs, even if such jobs might be beneath their level of education. How many Maltese can say that? I’ve yet to see a Maltese out-of-work professional pick up a broom because that’s the only job available. Somehow, the dole always wins out in these situations.
But that’s by the by. What really shocks me is the way we seem to be equating the value of human life with the economic value that said life can offer.
Quite apart from the moral implications of this, we’re hardly in a position to decide that those of us who don’t contribute “any added value to the local economy or culture” are useless.
Where would that leave the hundreds of perfectly healthy adults who eke an existence from one welfare cheque to another?
Or those who spend a lifetime waltzing from one rehab programme to another?
How about those who decide they prefer a life of crime and wind up costing the state thousands in legal fees, detention costs and so forth?
As for the “culture” card...please. There are too many people who think that Maltese culture is limited to pastizzi, tombola and coffee-mornings.
It’s rather rich to find us lambasting anyone for “not contributing to our culture” when so many of us seem happy to promote a “culture” that panders to the lowest common denominator, without ever taking us out of our comfort zone.
I know what a sensitive bunch you lot can be, so I’ll include the obligatory clarifications.
This post is definitely not intended to condemn those who genuinely need state assistance/those who find themselves going through difficult times and so forth.
The only reason I chose to use these examples is precisely to highlight the fact that it is extremely unSamaritan-like of us to presume to judge the value – or otherwise – of a person.
And yes, this applies regardless of the nationality of the person involved.
Next time we’re faced with a survey, how about we carry out less facile judgements and put that famed kindness to good use?
To conclude – not that it needs spelling out, but you never know – the “useless” in today’s heading? It’s called sarcasm.
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carlos ellul
Jun 6th 2012, 17:17
Two questions.
A)If they are such a resource then why aren't they taken off our hands?
B) How many immigrants can Malta successfully integrate? Another 10, Another 100, Another 1000, 10,000, how much? Cause there will be a time (and I think that this situation is already happening), where the Maltese will look less as the good samaritans and more like, prison wardens of some dictator, who keep 'inconvenient' people here against their will (and is not able to provide them with any future) just to appease his master
carlos ellul
Jun 6th 2012, 17:33
BTWr, I agree with Ramona that we've got too many locals who abuse the social benefits. Something must be done about them ASAP. However 2 bad things do not make a right
M. Attard
Jun 6th 2012, 04:40
They do not have papers simply because they lie about many things. In most cases even about their nationalities. They are well aware that certain nationalities are send back to their country. Their documents are usually kept by other persons. Besides Maltese authorities are so callable that most of the Iraqi and palestine regufees that we have in actual fact they are NOT. Even a person like me can tell. I wonder who is or are them persons who decide because they are just a fraud. Even in a case like this money must speak.
Patrik Larsson
Jun 6th 2012, 14:53
Perhaps you should take off the tin foil hat and actually provide some evidence for such a ridiculous claim.
John Azzopoardi
Jun 6th 2012, 02:33
Ramona, get a real job.
Robert Callus
Jun 5th 2012, 17:56
@Eric Soames
1) If you are referring to those who arrive by boat and claim asylum, that is not uncontrolled migration. Actually we've become control freaks with an 18 months detention period. In the case of those not eligible for protection, they are many times deported (it may take time but that's a question of logistics).
Uncontrolled migration is mainly the case of those who either enter illegally and go underground (very rare due to Malta's position) or those who have their Visas expired but remain here without the government's knowledge. Some of these may be Africans but in most cases they are not.
2) No one brings lack of documents on himself. If you're fleeing persecution the government is not going to give you the documents. Rest assured that if they had the possibility and the documents, they would have chosen the cheaper and safer alternative: Catch a plane.
3) Even economically the "do goodism" is better than the "do baddism". What have we gained economically by stigmatizing immigrants? Nothing, except for being indirectly apologists (by shifting the blame on the immigrants) for those who employ them illegally. Not only robbing them from a decent wage but also us for the taxes that should have been paid.
carlos ellul
Jun 6th 2012, 17:20
It is uncontrolled immigration since we have no say on how many people we can receive and when we can say STOP (for our and their sake)
M Carabott
Jun 5th 2012, 16:45
I could not agree with your article more.
I have noticed that the people who complain about immigrants the loudest are those who think nothing of shirking their responsibilities at work, thinking of no one but themselves and not caring one wit about sticking it to their employer and colleagues who have to pick up their slack.
And they are the first on the phone to the unions about safeguarding their jobs too, even though they don't deserve to have one.
R. Caruana
Jun 5th 2012, 16:13
I'm sorry but although do share your views against racism, sentences such as "I’ve yet to see a Maltese out-of-work professional pick up a broom because that’s the only job available" left me in sheer disgust, I'll say it outright, that statement is as bad as if it were racist.
Kenneth Cassar
Jun 6th 2012, 06:44
Why does it disgust you? Do you perhaps know a qualified Maltese lawyer or Doctor who works as a street sweeper?
carlos ellul
Jun 6th 2012, 17:41
I doubt that a Somalian with a Maltese/decent University doctorate will work as a street sweeper for the simple reason that he wouldn't need to do that. However I do know Maltese lawyers who ended up working as clerks because they couldn't find any better job.
Patrick S. Marshall
Jun 5th 2012, 13:50
No surprise here! Slaves have slaves have slaves.
The further down you go the social ladder, the harder the majority works, the more they fight to survive and the more they are willing to give for a better life. The average European is mildly content with an itch to get rich easy, which keeps him from really working for it and thus never getting anywhere, sitting on a mortgage in a repetitive life.
Everybody below that line of comfort want to reach ours and we get a little anxious and suspicious - which is a much stronger trait if you live on an island, especially as small as Malta. But there is a line above and one below too. It just so happens we seem to have reached a middle-ground and would like to stay here withe the least amount of effort. That of course is perfectly normal, as we are, like all primates, inherently hedonistic and lazy. So everything that is not, frightens us. And people who need to bend deep to eat, have no time to be lazy like the rest of us...
(Just in case you think you are not a lazy person, go ask your grandparents about the conditions in their time)
Ylenia Rosso
Jun 5th 2012, 13:22
This article is brilliant! Thank you Ms Depares for being so critical of such shameful behaviour, for once it is so nice to be reminded that some people do feel some compassion for those who embark on such a heart-breaking journey in search for a better life.
Eric Soames
Jun 5th 2012, 12:01
You cannot allow do-goodism to blindside you to the economic facts and the dangers of uncontrolled immigration.
Christine Xuereb
Jun 5th 2012, 12:59
@Eric Soames
In Malta, there is quite a long detention for migrant arrivals which gives the commission enough time to control immigration- upto 18 months is quite a long time to control, don't you think ?
I see Ramona's write up all about public discourse.
Like Ramona stated, many go out of their way to get even the worst jobs to avoid asking for benefits,when they are allowed benifits (because those with THP Temporary Humanitarian Protection, as an example- are not allowed benefits when laid off from work), many even having to ask their family & friends for support until their condition is back to normal with work.
Patrik Larsson
Jun 5th 2012, 13:00
A red herring. No one is suggesting uncontrolled immigration.
Try again buddy.
Ms Maria Vella
Jun 5th 2012, 15:40
Well said
Eric Soames
Jun 5th 2012, 16:51
Patrik Larsson: No, but in essence people arriving everyday without visas or a passport is uncontrolled immigration, pal.
Eric Soames
Jun 5th 2012, 17:13
Christine Xuereb: It may be a long time, but they bring it upon themselves by not having any kind of paperwork that might be validated more expeditiously and the authorities cannot, for various reasons, release unknown persons into society. Naturally they'll take menial work, there's no proof that they can do anything else and there's the feeling that they're earning brownie points with the powers-that-be by not taking a hand out. And, by all means, if they do get accepted as legal immigrants, then that willingness should count in their favor.
Patrik Larsson
Jun 6th 2012, 14:51
Eric Soames:
Completely false. If they arrived and simply walked right in, without anything being done it would be uncontrolled. These fellow humans arrive and get detained during the process of assessing the validity of their asylum requests.
So, still. Try again.
carlos ellul
Jun 6th 2012, 17:44
Its uncontrolled for the simple reason that many remain irrespective on whether we can integrate them or not. We can't stop them from coming to Malta, we can't send them to Libya, we can't send them to Northern Europe (for example Sweden send around 500 resources back to Malta) and in many cases we can't send them back to their country.
Jonathan Camilleri
Jun 5th 2012, 11:05
Well, to be honest, I always thought of some refugees as hard-working individuals, and, this is one of the reasons why there is a space in our society as well. Maltese are a bit lazy by nature let's face it.
John Neville Ebejer
Jun 5th 2012, 13:13
Speak for yourself Mr Camilleri. Face it yourself - a good part of the Maltese population are most hardworking.
And that is really a racist remark to speak of a people and label him negative remarks such as 'lazy by nature'. You are even worse than those labelling migrants as useless and unproductive.
Of course migrants can give an input to Maltese society. First of all a good number of them appreciate any opportunity for work. Many are very willing to learn and try to better their sutuation. Many have had the will to live on - notwithstanding the horrible scenario they have lived through.
But then as in all communities - I do not beleieve there are races - you find positive and negative attitudes.
But good reflections Ms Depares. Thank you.
pat muscat
Jun 6th 2012, 08:31
Speak for yourself buddy!
Jonathan Camilleri
Jun 6th 2012, 18:57
@John Neville Ebejer Okay, sorry I take back my comment about Maltese being lazy, I made a mis-statement.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jun 5th 2012, 11:05
1) "Our nation has perfected the art of exploiting the establishment down to a tee."
Agreed, but only with the connivance of politicians who aid and abate this behaviour in exchange of votes. So please place blame on the proper doorstep.
2) "They’re the ones who don’t turn up their noses at the menial jobs"
There could be a solution in that sentence. Tell me, why are these illegal migrants, while waiting for repatriation or asylum, not be made to clear country roads from accumulated debris and grown grass? This work and other jobs would go some way towards the cost of lodging and generally looking after them.
3) Please forget "Samaritan" actions and seek a business like solution. Business delivers far more efficiently than charity.
Patrik Larsson
Jun 5th 2012, 11:29
You can't have an individual being made to clear roads. That's slave labour. You can of course offer jobs such as road cleaning against a wage, but there is a fair bit of red tape in the way for such a system, as an asylum seeker would struggle to receive a work permit.
Housing and food is currently being provided - although not to a very high standard - but the one aspect Malta is missing out tremendously on is giving these people some dignity. Especially when you realise the attitude people have towards them. It's sometimes unbelievable how desensitised people can be towards another human in need.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jun 5th 2012, 12:48
Mr Larsson. This is not slave labour by any means. This is where you go wrong. Providing visual and documented evidence that these people are contributing towards their upkeep, I am sure the attitude you speak of will change. Most of these illegal migrants are hard working and not looking for charity, but seeking viable help towards solving their distress. It is work provided in exchange for "free everything" these people are provided with.
I must admit to having no idea of the standard of food provided, but I would imagine it would be decent. I am sure that most of them would want to be useful and contribute towards Malta's needs. After all they should, and I am sure would, be grateful for what we provide them with.
Matters get complicated when you start calling this "work for wages". If they provided this labour for "free", then, possibly, there would not be need for a work permit. So let us not allow bureaucracy to get in the way of a solution.
Please choose the reason of your report below: