Staff at the Refugee Commissioner’s office are complaining about inadequate working conditions at their office at Fort St Elmo, in Valletta, which they say has become unbearable ever since construction work started there.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the staff said there was no running water, the only toilet available for some 20 workers had no flushing mechanism and dust was the order of the day.

They have also complained of the inadequate facilities at the Safi detention centre where they are expected to conduct lengthy interviews with asylum seekers in mobile offices.

The Refugee Commissioner’s office determines asylum applications and decides whether migrants warrant some form of international protection. It can also reject applications, which means migrants have to return home.

“In summer, by 10 a.m. the mobile office is akin to a mini oven and unsuitable to conduct sensitive and detailed interviews,” a worker complained.

Asked about these concerns, a spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry at the Office of the Prime Minister said the Refugee Commissioner’s office would be moving out of St Elmo to new premises “by the end of next week”.

He said the office at St Elmo had been in use since June 2001 and there had been “no changes” to the premises since the start of works.

“The office has some 20 staff who carry out most of their work from field offices in the Safi detention centre.” He added that air conditioning would be installed in each mobile office at the Safi centre but did not specify when.

The Refugee Commissioner’s office is obliged to interview migrants who are resident at the Safi centre and Lyster barracks – both closed centres.