Employees at open centres directed to walk out at first sign of violence

The General Workers’ Union has directed all employees at open centres to collectively walk out and inform the police at the first sign of violence or intimidation by residents.

Agency for the Welfare of Asylum Seekers employees who are members of the GWU, especially those working in open centres for minors at Dar is-Sliem in Sta Venera and Dar il-Liedna in Fgura, reported a number of violent and intimidating incidents. These ranged from verbal threats to being pushed and threatened with a knife, Josef Bugeja, secretary for the union’s government and public entities section said.

He told a news conference that one worker was reportedly told by one of the minors that if she came back to work they would chop her head off.

Mr Bugeja said all the incidents were reported to the police but little had been done and the GWU had repeatedly met with AWAS management as well as the permanent secretary in the Home Affairs Ministry. While an agreement was reached that a security audit of the centres should be held, they failed to agree that a police officer should be stationed at these centres.

It was workers’ basic right to not feel threatened at their place of work, Mr Bugeja said, adding that other residents were also being harmed by this intimidating behaviour.