‘Government should have ended half-days’

Eddy Privitera

Oct 9th 2012, 20:56

"Will have no impact on its deficit." How ? Or perhaps because the impact will affect the incoming government ?

Paul Haul

Oct 9th 2012, 14:46

Mr Tabone in fact has a good point to make but it is hidden.

Whay re there so many Civil Servants in Malta Government? Is it the remnants of Parkinson's Rule?

We could reduce the numbers of Civil Servants by 40% and no one would notice at all. They could then all be asked to work a reasonable week every day of the working week.

The Civil Service live off the rest of the Tax Payers and therefore there is a right to accountability.

No matter which government Party is elected in the next General Election in Malta the Government of the day must address the inordinate incimbancies of an ever iincreasing large Civil Service. At the same time they should dispose of Services that should not be managed by the State. Perhaps it is an anathema to many people in Malta but - with the exception of some main requisites of Society, through Health Education Police and Military services nearly everything else could be out-sourced.

B Borg

Oct 9th 2012, 08:43

Each government department has different needs and different working exigencies.. Some civil servants would actually want half days taken away because by 13.30 work will not be finished and they have to stay at work longer than that (without being paid overtime, or having disturbance allowance) other departments such as the refugee commission peak their work in summer so half days do not make sense either. It would be preferable to have sensible working hours all year round, such as 7-15.15, felxi time could be introduced and one could choose (or its taken in turns) a time frame such as 8-16.15 or 9-17.15, this means that departments are manned from 7-5 anyway all year round, facilitating traffic congestions and making it easier for families or errand running for everyone.

C Busuttil

Oct 8th 2012, 23:04

@Tancred Tabone

I work in the private sector and part of my job duties takes me to some 4/5 departments some times even ten times weekly, come summer or winter.

1) In winter, most departments open in the afternoon and I can tell you that its at waste of time and resources since the public and private sector don't make use of the services in the afternoon.

2) Some departments even opened on Saturday mornings which they promoted through various adverts, it was stopped. When I enquired with a particular head of department (an old friend of mine) he told me that it was not worth the electricity it costs the department since public response was pratically none and they tried it not for a week but for months.

3)If the public does not make use of the departments in winter I can't see happening in that scorching sun of summer.

4)From my experience most of the private sector leave till the end of deadlines and expect to get a service when they had plenty of time at their disposal to get what they required.

5)The service you get at the departments is average just like you get at with private sector. For example at the present I am being harassed by a particular company to pay for a service which has been terminated over 16months ago. I am still being billed for this service which I repeat has ended months ago and although I have phoned, sent various emails/ letters and been promised that action would be taken to stop bills being issued, nothing has happened. This to say that many private companies are inefficient just as some departments are.

6) One particular complaint you hear is that people are sent from a department to another, in most cases it is because most people pretend a service from the wrong section or even department. They don't bother to read notices they receive and which office they should go to. Certain people pretend to get a service from any office they enter even if it has no connection with the service required.

7) A problem that is becoming a particular headache is that some departments are short of staff, very efficient civil servants have retired and they have not been replaced. Their work experience has been lost since it has not been passed to others as there is no replacement. Reducing the staff in the departments is no solution, the waste is other sectors of the public service. You don't need hundreds if not thousands of people in the public works while you don't have enough clerks to make an office function!!!!!! Some departments are all year round on a skeleton staff basis. If no remedy is taken soon it will be quite a problem and the service will suffer.

Mr. Tabone from my first hand account of my daily dealings with the gov. departments half days are no luxury as there is no response in winter let alone in summer. There might be exceptions but exceptions are not the rule. Yours is cheap talk and this country has other more urgent needs. The company for which I work is owed thousands of euros from the private sector and its definitely not because the government employees have half days in summer. You should understand better than others that opening departments in summer afternoon is a waste of money and resources. As a person employed in the private sector I am not envious of half days as many who have written on this blog are, compared to a public officer who probably has more reponsibilty than me I am paid much better and don't have to work extra hours every week to make for half days!!!!

S Muscat

Oct 8th 2012, 21:49

Kemm hawn nies qeghdin sew,kulhadd jiggieled ghal gildu!!! Jidru li qatt ma hadmu mal-privat ha ikunu jafu!!! U ma nafx min fejn gabuha uhud min dawn li qed jikkummentaw li mal-privat il-paga ghola!!! U s'issa ghadni qatt ma smajt Ghalliem/a li jghid li huwa stressat!!!!

Anthony Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 21:46

I think most of you are mixing things up. First of all not all government workers have different working hours in winter and summer. Only those 'old' workers classified as 'tac-civil' have these conditions who are mostly clerk. All other workers and professionals like Doctors, nurses, Pharmacists and all the other Health workers, Architects, managers, IT etc etc etc have normal working hours including shifts and long days like 12hrs. I do not think that all these professionals working with the Government sit on their bottoms all day either and surely deserve a 2.5% increase.

Mr C Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 21:25

quite right too

Joseph Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 21:23

@Carmel Camenzuli
Int bis serjeta jew. Tipreferi bicca cikkulata ghat toghma wara l-ikel u ma jimpurtakx mid dejn. Kont naghmlek iktar mohhok miftuh. Mhux ahjar bla cikkulata u bla defecit. Wara kollox bic cikkulata mhux ser nitma l-familja anzi nkunu qedin nohorgu fl-usna barra. Ara kieku ghedtli li dak iz zmien ma kienx hawn free market kont nghidlek ghandek ragun imma mhux issemmi ic cikkulata.

@Franco Attard Trevisan
Taf meta konna mejtin bil guh u bla xoghol siehbi,qabel 1972. Mela nsejtu dak iz zmien bieb il belt kien ikun mimli tallaba ghax lanqas bicca penzjoni ma kien ikollok wara li tkun hdimt ghomrok u ghal hinijiet twal mhux bhal tal lum ta. U taf min kien isib xoghol dak iz zmien min kien isefsef f'widnejn xi kappilan jew tmur ommu tizfen f'xi ballu tas sinjuri' Nahseb f'himtni. Jekk ma ghextux dak iz zmien ahjar ma titkellem xejn milli toqod tikteb dak li qied ibellalek haddiehor. Jien ma nitkellimx bil passjoni imma dak li hu iswed nghidlu iswed u dak li hu abjad nghidlu abjad.

Maria Vassallo

Oct 8th 2012, 21:00

Quote:
Summer half-days are a luxury that should have been abolished in the new collective agreement for the public service, according to the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise.

Questions:
Is TT including public schools?
And will public service employees work less during the autumn-winter-spring months?

Ninette Zammit

Oct 8th 2012, 20:50

After all, it's not only the public sector employees who work half days in summer. there are many private companies as well

Ninette Zammit

Oct 8th 2012, 20:37

and if govt. employees get increases in their salary, it means they have more money to spend. And where does that money finish up? In the businessmen's pockets, Mr Tabone

Clive Gerada

Oct 8th 2012, 20:29

Qegħdin taraw kif kollha qbistu min fuq is-siġġu? imbasta moħkhom biex teqirdu għal-għalliema, issa tafu x'iġfieri meta xi ħadd jolqotkhom fil-laħam il-ħaj! ;)

Mr leo attard

Oct 8th 2012, 20:10

another thing , mr tabone --- why dont you ask the govt to take a pay cut? Other government leaders have done so in the present economic situation. so why are you targeting the average civil servant? also, the removal of holidays in lieu of those falling on a weekend has not improved our economic situation, so what makes you think the removal of halkf-days will fare any better? in england, adding more time to workers only led tio an increase in sick days.

Mr leo attard

Oct 8th 2012, 20:03

mr tabone-- what does your ''generous salary'' amount to? more than mine, I bet! so why don't you practise what you preach and give yourself a salary cut!

James Vella

Oct 8th 2012, 19:29

Mr.Tabone

TAX EVASION is a luxury in this country !!!!!

E. Azzopardi

Oct 8th 2012, 19:01

Those working with the private sector do not need civil servants for that half an hour extra in winter. They need them full day in summer, when in this blessed country there is full activity, especially with tourism.

And yes, we need to see some improvement in the service. Stop saying "hi u "qalbi" or whatever to your callers. It is very impolite and shows signs of inefficiency. And when you answer the phone, you should answer before seven rings and say "Good morning' and the name of the department. "Hello" is not good at all.

These are the basics and even these are lacking. Will those responsible for the training, please note.
Now start enjoying your salary increase which, yes, should have been tied up with your productivity ( which is mentioned so often by those in charge) and efficiency.

L Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 18:59

The reality is that it is not true that employees in the private sector get fantastic wages. And they work long hours for no choice of their own but to safe guard their job. Whilst those who work in the public sector have a secure job unless they are subject to a definite contract, which are a small fraction of the majority.

It has nothing to do with productivity Mr Buhagiar, far from it. I have needed things from government departments and at times the attitude is shear go slow, beginning with the licensing office.

Victor Gelfo

Oct 8th 2012, 18:57

Following my comment, why all this difference between employees of the civil service.
Is it right for a nurse to work 12 hours shifts at a stretch. Is it right to expose a person to such stressful environment like the casualty department, hospital wards, mental hospitals etc.
So a clerk is complaining about working 9 hours in an office, most of the time not facing the public, while a nurse has to work 12 hours(most of the time the 1.30 hrs break are not taken) facing patients and public all the time!
This, when we speak of our first class health services, when the majority of nurses, even in undeveloped countries work 6 hours shifts.

m mifsud

Oct 8th 2012, 18:53

DAN BIS-SERJETA?!!! Sur Tabone ghandek tkun taf li l-haddiema tal-gvern huma imhallsa inqas minn dawk tal-privat. apparti minn dan ix-xoghol dejjem qed jizdied u n-nies jonqsu u min jghid li l-haddiema tal-gvern ma jaghmlu xejn ghax qatt ma hadem mal-gvern (jew at least ma hadimx dawn l-ahhar snin). apparti dan inpattu tal-hinijiet tas-sajf fix-xitwa. nista nkun taf ghala hawn min jinharaq daqsekk li l-haddiema tal-gvern jispiccaw qabel fis-sajf? Sur Tabone kieku taghmel ftit zmien tahdem f'dipartiment tal-gvern bix-xoghol u l-paga li ghandom il-haddiem tal-gvern zgur li tbiddel l-opinjoni klassista tieghek.

Silvio Mizzi

Oct 8th 2012, 18:52

hazin hafna tkun barra xemx hin kollu ghall 8hrs...sahha ewwel???

m mifsud

Oct 8th 2012, 18:43

DAN BIS-SERJETA?!!! Sur Tabone ghandek tkun taf li l-haddiema tal-gvern huma imhallsa inqas minn dawk tal-privat. apparti minn dan ix-xoghol dejjem qed jizdied u n-nies jonqsu u min jghid li l-haddiema tal-gvern ma jaghmlu xejn ghax qatt ma hadem mal-gvern (jew at least ma hadimx dawn l-ahhar snin). apparti dan inpattu tal-hinijiet tas-sajf fix-xitwa. nista nkun taf ghala hawn min jinharaq daqsekk li l-haddiema tal-gvern jispiccaw qabel fis-sajf? Sur Tabone kieku taghmel ftit zmien tahdem f'dipartiment tal-gvern bix-xoghol u l-paga li ghandom il-haddiem tal-gvern zgue li tbiddel l-opinjoni klassista tieghek.

Karl Abela

Oct 8th 2012, 18:42

Ara vera f'dan il-pajjiz taghmel xtaghmel ma tista ighibha zewg ma hadd. Miskin min qieghed jmexxi l-pajjiz!!

Ms Maria Vella

Oct 8th 2012, 18:42

Half days are ridiculous, they should have been abolished ages ago. It is totally frustrating for people who depend on such departments input and have to wait a long time to get any response just because such departments are on half days

Ray Buhagiar

Oct 8th 2012, 18:39

I am so disappointed with Mr Tancred Tabone comments. It highlights the problem why the private sector is not as productive and profitable.

1. Doing more hours is not related being productive or profitable. Has he ever heard about efficiency - doing more with less. Do less hours and do more work.
2. Has Mr Tancred ever heard about - work / life balance?

The President of the chamber of commerce should read a bit more about modern work practice or resign

Charles J. Buttigieg

Oct 8th 2012, 18:38

Most Government offices are now equipped with air conditioners that cancelled the great discomfort for the clerical workers to work in a closed room during the afternoons . For the manual workers working outside is a different story all together. At any rate the loss of working hours in the summer months are compensated by working extra hours when the outside temperature is kinder in the winter. All told, these workers work an average of 40 hours per week

mr a borg

Oct 8th 2012, 18:25

@carlos ellul (10:08)...i felt the need to cut and paste your comment to make sure it's read. how true this comment!!

"The only time these guys turn into socialist is when businesses need some sort of bailout"

does not mr tabone know that from october 1 to june 15 civil servants work extra hours to make up for the shorter hours from june 16 to september 30?

what are your intentions mr tancred tabone?

c. saliba

Oct 8th 2012, 18:01

In-nofs ta nhar huma l-unika incentiv li fadlilna l-haddiema tac-civil sur tabone. ma tafx x'inti tghid.

Carmel Camenzuli

Oct 8th 2012, 17:55

Skuzani SurTabone, bir-rispett kollhu. Xi gaghlek tahseb li inti tista tigi titkellem fuq il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xoghol tieghi ? Mela jien xi darba staqsejt xi hxuna ta but ghandek jew kemm ghandek 'fringe benefits' fil- kundizzjonijiet ta' l-impieg tieghek ? fl-opinjoni tieghi din hi il-mibgheda tal-klassi !
Dawn kollha li jigu jlabalbu ghawn fuq in-nofs ta nhari taghna tal-haddiema tal-gvern jafu x'mizerja ta paga ghandna ahna ? Jien per exempju nahdem fi grad ta messaggier. Tafu darba kull 4 gimghat b'kemm immur paga id-dar ? Immur bi 817 ewro. Ghandi dritt immur naghmel part-time ghall familja fis-sajf ha nghin ftit il-mezzi ?
Nimmagina li hawn min ghandu forsi li stess paga tieghi jew ghar imma dawk huma il-kundizzjonijiet tax-xoghol taghna.
Jista jkun li hawn min ghandu xi haga ohra li ahna il-messaggiera tal-gvern m'ghandniex.
Nitkellem ma messaggiera li ma jahdmux mac-Civil u meta jitkellmu mieghi fuq il kundizzjonijiet taghhom il-kundizzjonijiet taghna hdejn taghhom lanqas jibdew.
Anke issib minn jghidlek li ghax wara nofsinhar ikolli nieqaf ghax tal-gvern filghodu biss jahdmu. Jekk tmur l-Italja fil-Ferragosto (f'Awwissu) gieli lanqas hwienet ma' ssib miftuhin.
Nappella lis-Sur Tabone u lill- kull minn jirraguna bhalu biex ihalluna kwieti lilna il- haddiema tac-Civil ghax ahna ma naghtu fastidju lill-hadd u ma naghmlux mistoqsijiet fuq il- kundizzjonijiet tax-xoghol ta' haddiehor. Grazzi.

Christopher Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 17:55

Yes sure, govt employees should work from eight to five all year round on week days, from eight to four on Saturdays and till one on Sundays. So when a poor importer of some sort bags a bargain on a Sunday morning while browsing the net in the comfort of an air conditioned home office, he will be able to rapidly drive his internal climate controlled Jaguar or BMW to a govt dept to process the necessary import docs and make sure he does not miss out on a good fat profit. After all it is responsibility to support his family otherwise his young son/daughter will not be able to buy the latest model of a convertible sports car. Naturally my kids will be the most grateful to this gentleman for instilling an super sense of duty in their father instead of spending a day at the beach with them.

Anthony Paris

Oct 8th 2012, 17:44

"....in a deal the Government says will have no impact on its deficit" Of course it will have an impact on the deficit. These millions could have gone towards reduction of the national debt. Furthermore, these increased costs will be there forever...they are not a one time cost. For those "floaters" who say "they are afraid of the PL", these kinds of actions that the PN is taking before the election is what I am afraid of. Greece & Spain, here we come.

Franco Attard Trevisan

Oct 8th 2012, 17:27

I fully agree with Tancred Tabone on this one...

Joseph Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 17:10

@Carmell Camilleri
L-ewwel nett tivvintax ahbarijiet foloz. Joseph qatt ma qal li ser jiffriza l-pagi. Erga aqra d-diskors tieghu imbaghad tkellem. It tieni veru li tnaqsulhom il pagi u l-penzjonijiet l-haddiema ewropew., imma taf ghaliex waslu ghal dawk id decizzjonijiet drastici w li qedin ihalsu ghalihom il haddiema? Ara 25 sena ilu hawn Malta lanqas konna nafu x'inhu defecit ghax qatt ma smajna biha mhux bhal lum. Issa ifhem li trid habib.

Charles Micallef

Oct 8th 2012, 17:06

The half days opening for Gov Offices along with the bureaucracy go hand in hand to burden further businesses on these Islands, something that you do not find in any other country with similar climate

A Said

Oct 8th 2012, 16:54

Unfortunately, money is taking over family values. People like tancred, unfortunately prefer to see their pockets getting richer, rather than seeing families getting stronger. Maybe he states such comments, cause he can enjoy his family whenever he wants but the Joe public, has to stay at work for long hours, because people li Tancred opted to prioritize economy rather than family. So please Tancred, you do your things and let other do what they like.

O Kassar

Oct 8th 2012, 16:37

If Mr Tabone wanted to be objective he should have mentioned that public service officials in other member states work a 35 hour week and are not paid peanuts like in Malta. Government departments have never been productive as much as in the last eight years since we joined the EU, because of the great commitments Malta is bound to observe. If it were not for the dedication of those remaining in the Public service today, Malta would never have performed so well in the EU. In these last years the load of work and pressure on the employees in the Civil Service has increased significantly while at the same time government continued to reduce its workforce. So all this talk about productivity today is just "paroli vojt".

Those employees who still work six hours in the summer schedule have to work 8 hours 45 minutes per day (i.e. 44 hours per week) during the rest of the year to make up for the reduced hours in summer. Far from the 35 hour week of public service employees elsewhere in the EU. So these employees are not stealing anything from anyone. After all, the private sector itself nowadays also works half-days during August. Government departments also provide flexible arrangements to serve the industry so that customer services continue even during summer afternoons. So I'm really surprised with Mr Tabone's comments.

Louis Coleiro

Oct 8th 2012, 16:33

If one takes a good look at the hours the civil servants work you see that in winter they work three quarters of an hour more and in summer for a period of 3.5 months they work for 6hours from Monday to Friday. what is wrong with that if you count the hours they work like any other in the country.
There may be some that lack responsibility but when it comes to crunch time they work more than anybody else in the country.
So what is wrong with having half days in summer if these are call so but in reality they work 6 hours in summer. Min ghand l ghali jkompli jzidu....

cesco di luigi

Oct 8th 2012, 16:29

As a personality of such calibre Mr Tabone should have first ascertained facts and done some preliminary calculations.
In summer Government workers work 6 hours a day. Now 6/8 = 3/4 and not 1/2. So the term half-days is a misnomer and as such a shame that it is bandied about by such a prominent businessman. Imagine if his company announce reductions of 25 % and the clients then demanded 50 % instead! Or if one declares 25 % less of ones income on ones tax return!! What a mistake!
All in all Government workers work 40 hours a week spread over the year. Now Mr Tabone should know that this working week is longer than in some EU countries. Let's take the EU institutions themselves as an example because after all when we joined this elite club it wasn't just for business but more importantly for the well-being of the man in the street.
In EU institutions they work an average of 37.5 hours a week. Not only that but they have many more holidays (vacation leave) than their Maltese counterparts. They shutdown during certain times of year including Christmas and over Easter. And these holidays are NOT deducted from their annual vacation. Although the EU does not declare Christianity to be its religion they take day off with full pay not only on Good Friday but even on Maundy Thursday and Easter Monday, and several days between Christmas Eve and the New Year. I need not mention the salaries and perks. Mr Tabone should keep in mind that it is civil servants that allowed Malta to join the EU with the hard work pre-accession and even now that we are receiving circa 200 million per annum in funds, although there were those who thought hat only one man was involved in all this. Does he think these are just presented in a sack and laid outside the Minister's door.? Little does he know of the effort involved. What I would have expected both Mr Tabone and the Unions is to demand that after 8 years of membership that Maltese civil servants start to enjoy the same rights as their counterparts in Brussels who do not contribute by way of taxes to the common good.

Furthermore Mr Tabone really does not seem to comprehend the value of EU membership. In the EU the latest buzz-words regarding employees conditions are flexi-time and teleworking. In this respect I consider that the Maltese approach of shorter working days in summer to compensate for longer hours the rest of the year to be very avante garde in that this was introduced way before we even dreamt about joining the EU. In fact the Maltese Government should be used as an example to private enterprise to allow its employees many of whom are on measly salaries, to at least be allowed to enjoy life outside of the working environment. I am also very surprised that none of the Unions in particular the UHM has not had anything to say to this biased argument that is based on false assumptions.

kevin camilleri

Oct 8th 2012, 16:25

Jekk jinqatw in nofs ta nhari , nispera li jinqatw ghal kullhadd u niehdu zieda fil paga daqs il privat... PLS note li in nofs ta nhari nahdmu ghalijhom ghal min ma jafx!!!

Paul Micallef

Oct 8th 2012, 16:01

This has been in the pipe line for quite sometime now, mela it-tobba, teachers, maggistrati jiehdu li ridu ghax hemm is-sahha, u ahna iz-zghar, tridu tnehhunna in nofs tan ghari?? Jien nibda fis sebgha u nahdem sal hamsa neqsin kwart, break ta kwarta fid disgha u iehor ta tlett kwartti fin nofs siegha, mela jien nahdem disgha sieghat, ahna qed nahdmu ghalijhom in-nofs ta naghari, il-gvern mu qieghed ittina xejn ta bxejn.

Carmel Camilleri

Oct 8th 2012, 16:00

You were never so right Mr. Tabone. The summer half days should have been abolished long time ago but no Government dared touch these sacred cows. The collective agreement is just a customery handout by the Government of our money. No more no less.

Anton Scerri Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 15:45

Issa dawn il-kummenti kollha tan-nofs ta' nhari u x'naf jien. Dawn mhuma xejn hlief 'flexitime'. Nahdem iktar fix-xitwa biex imbaghad li nkun gemmajt nehodhom fis-sajf . X'inhi l-problem. Hadd mhu jithallas ta' dak li ma jkunx hadem hlief dawk li ghal xi raguni jew ohra ikunu skartati min-fuq il-post tax-xoghol.

Carmel Ellul

Oct 8th 2012, 15:40

If the government lets go 5% of its manpower over the same period , then the government will save money and there will be less wasted time , since it is a known fact that the performance improves as the backlog of work increases. There is a limit to this of course , but there is certainly room for improvement.
Stopping summer time hours in government offices will only happen if both parties agree to it. It will never happen.

Peter Shaw

Oct 8th 2012, 15:27

terga jkun hemm min jahdem bir reduced hours fil half days u biex tinqeda weghda!!!!

Joseph Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 15:21

Liema haddiema tal-EU qed jaccettaw tnaqqis fil pagi? Mela ma tarax ahbarijiet int sur Tabone. Ghalfejn daqk il protesti kollha mela. Jekk pajjizna ma jiflahx ghal aktar zidiet lewwel ma ghandek tissugerixxi li jitnaqsu il pagi
gholjin u il perkacci kollha u taf ghal min qed nirreferi bizzejjed.

Charles Falzon

Oct 8th 2012, 15:21

Is a Government obliged to consult with such an organisation on such matters? Do they consult when they set their own profit ( highly inflated) profit margins?

M Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 15:08

Do any of you know that if you had to count the number of hours Govt employees work in winter and summer you would get a 40 hour week ?

Do you know that people do not make use of any departments that are open in the afternoon ?

I am not talking about Govt. Dept only here but in general. Go to any bank in Malta in the morning and you will find it full of people. Go to the same bank in the afternoon and you will find it empty or at most with two or three customers only.

Ms.D. Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 15:00

With air conditioning installed in work places, salried workers have no reason at all to work half-days in summer.

Paul Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 14:59

I beleive that Civil servants should not work or spend 9 hours in a department ( including the break ) . So a compromise would sound just. Abolish Summer half days and introduce a new shift from 8.00am to 3.00pm with a half hour break. I am sure there will be less wastage in Utilities and also more productivity and less lingering.

ANTHONY PAVIA

Oct 8th 2012, 14:54

At last, the Chamber of Commerce and MEA have found their voices. Strange but true.

Mario Busuttil

Oct 8th 2012, 14:52

With all your respect Mr Tabone ,it doesn't make sense what you are speaking ,,,Public sector employees work extra in winter times for the compensation of the summer half days ,an average of normal 40Hr a week as established by the Law. Mr Chairman, you can't say anything about the rise in wage of this collective aggreement since you have been put a Chairman in Enemalta in early years,and now as a President of Chamber of Commerce and Interprise....evreyone wants to EAT, and people like you only want gain something more by your self.....don't be selfish my friend.

Victor Gelfo

Oct 8th 2012, 14:48

Can i ask a pertinent question. Why do nurses and doctors, being classified as public servants do not get these half days on summer? Do they perhaps have a different genetic makeup to make them immune for the heat?
Is it right for a nurse to work 12 hours at a stretch?

F. Pisani

Oct 8th 2012, 14:44

“Generous wage increase” is nothing compared to his wage isn’t that so? Perhaps the chairman needs to be paid, our wage to see if there is the need for an increase or not!!!!!!!!!

Tony Camilleri

Oct 8th 2012, 14:41

Tancred, the government employees WORK during the rest of the year for their reduced hours in summer and It is not actually half days.

STOP UNDERMINING GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES WORKING CONDITIONS.

HOW ABOUT THE CHAMBER AND MEA ACCEPTING CUTS IN THEIR FAT CATS SALARIES AND PERKS?
16 June to 30 September 7.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. (No break)
1 October to 15 June 7.45 a.m. to 5.15 p.m. (¾ hr break at 12.30 p.m.)
Gozitans work 1 hour less each day as they have to travel from/to Gozo

Public Service Management Code 7th March 2011
http://www.mpo.gov.mt/downloads/PSMC2011.pdf

Mr Ernest Vella

Oct 8th 2012, 14:40

The abolishment of half days will only be considered if the Goverment workers work 8 hrs and not 10 hrs...from 7 if not before till 4pm and 5pm in winter. Workers are to be considered as persons and not as numbers. I note the Chamber of Commerce that because of avid people like themselves we are in all this mess of recession in the world, and not of workers which work and work and there stadard of living remains the same if not worsening by days while they enjoy their villas and luxuries. Shame on them.

Jowey Brownie

Oct 8th 2012, 14:38

liema gvern se jdendel il-gongol ma' ghonq il-qattus ?

Joe Morana

Oct 8th 2012, 14:21

the Chamber could not understand the logic of the “generous wage increase” for public servants in the €60 million deal that will be signed this week"
Perhaps "The Chamber" is mixing up the marginal wages increase of 2.5% anuallly including COLA of Public Service employes with the self granted 500/600 Euro increase per week of Cabinet members , the 230 Euro per week including uncapped pensions granted to the Judiciary.

John Neville Ebejer

Oct 8th 2012, 14:11

The employers associations and the Chamber of Commerce should first re-assure that their members and affiliates are declaring all their profit and paying all the due taxes accordingly and if they actually cash in more profit they reflect this by wage increases to their employees- their opinions as regards other employers and emplees would be better considered and respected this way. The country would fare even better to allow such luxuries of wage and conditions of work, just promotions, appreciation of our work we Government employees already enjoy.

I am shure they are already doing this - so it is just a matter of PR or us being so ignorant as to grasp the reality. No?

Justin Spiteri

Oct 8th 2012, 14:10

The Chamber hoped the raise has been pegged to an increase in performance. - Probably has been pegged to an increase in votes :)

GL Calleja

Oct 8th 2012, 14:04

This is getting from bad to worse. Some governments will sell their soul to the devil for votes, is that it? And yes, for those in doubt, half day working day, while getting paid for a full days work is one of those ARCHAIC rules and laws that was carried over from the forties and fifties and nobody would touch that law. God forbid you change the schedule of a government civil servant worker. Most private company workers do not have that luxury so why do the civil servants. Oh I know, it is because they work for the government and they get paid at the expense of the TAX PAYER. Exception, I don't think police and soldiers work a half a day and get paid for a full day, or do they? On the other hand as long as the TAX PAYER is paying for it, who cares? But "We are Maltese and we do as we please". The government says this raise for public servants of 2.5 per cent every year for the next five years will have no impact on its deficit. The government says a lot of things come election time. I say abolish half days while getting paid for a full days work.

John Neville Ebejer

Oct 8th 2012, 13:58

We could come to agree wit the Employers Associations about this - only if an exercise is made to re-verify before any agreement is done - that all members of this association are declaring all their income and paying the necessary taxes even before they cash in - just as the Government emplyees do. And that according to any increase in their declared income they increase their employees wages.

Mr Joseph Carmel Chetcuti

Oct 8th 2012, 13:54

I worked in Townsville all day and never had half days during summer. Townsville is hotter than Malta. Sheer laziness. Have they not heard of air conditioning?

Sarah Grech (Zebbug)

Oct 8th 2012, 13:51

“These negotiations would have been a perfect opportunity for the Government to abolish the half-days which today are widely considered a luxury the country cannot afford,”

Is this the luxury which is breaking the camel's back, Mr. Tabone?

Ghax ma nibdewx mill-kumpaniji kollha li ghandhom aktar chiefs milli ghandhom indjani u l-perkacci kollha taghhom, bhal per ezempju l-Enemalta?

Jewilla nkunu qed nirfsu xi kallijiet jekk naghmlu hekk?

c scudi

Oct 8th 2012, 13:49

Half days in the summer were a neccessity in the old days,when there was no air condition or other comforts.The population used to wake up early and do their transactions before the midday heat.This system is totally outdated and inefficient.Everyone else works for a whole day..what,s different with government employees.Come on..get real

f vincenti

Oct 8th 2012, 13:48

The 'half days' of summer that Mr. Tabone seems to want to make a noise about are actually 6 hr long days as opposed to an 8hr long day. Civil servants FACTUALLY make up for this ''luxury'' by working longer hours over the rest of the year for them. Nothing comes for free.

Kurt Guillaumier

Oct 8th 2012, 13:48

What Mr Tabone and Mr Farrugia should know before making this declaration is that civil servants work 8.75 hours in winter and 6 hours in summer. So it is not half days, but only 2 hours less then the 8 hour day.

R Casha

Oct 8th 2012, 13:46

Government employees works 8.5 hours (excluding break) for nine months, and then works 6 hours a day for three summer months. If one does his maths, they the same hours that other private sector employee work...

Mr. Tabone should have seen the ridiculous wage increase these employees have in their collective agreement!

Mr. Tabone should also see top "government" employees, having a seat in parliament whereby they earned €500 a week for having a FULL 3-month summer OFF.

Mr. Tabone, if you are idle on work, there are LOADS of VITAL things to look into within the govt. sector!

B. Attard

Oct 8th 2012, 13:41

Forsi mhux kulhadd jaf, il-haddiema tal-gvern jahdmu aktar sieghat fix-xitwa minn normali sabiex ipattu ghan-nofs ta' nhari tas-sajf igiefieri lill-gvern u lill-pajjiz, m'huma qed jehdulu xejn izjed!

Barra min hekk, allura jekk pajjiz iehor ikun fi krizi u jnaqqas il-pagi ghandna naghmlu bhalu? Mela bl-istess ragunament ghalfejn karozza gdida minn pajjiz iehor tiswa € 9000 u min hawn Malta tiswa €14,000??

Xi hadd jista jwegibni pls? Grazzi.

Robert Cassar

Oct 8th 2012, 13:38

Ah, the love for teachers is back!!!! Pls do note, that having the best job in Malta is only one step away (or maybe four). Sorry but you still need to do the B.Ed (Hons) course....

Come on: The country Needs You...

D. Caruana

Oct 8th 2012, 13:36

agreed .... plus if I was in government I would do the country a FAVOUR and sack most of the poeple who are not needed / do not perform... perhaps quality and efficiency are 2 words which do not mean anything to the public sector, but mean a lot to the rest of the "public" who are forced to fork out more taxes to fund the inefficient and ineffective public sector .,.... and for what, one may ask?

M. Cachia

Oct 8th 2012, 13:34

This reminds me of the same scenario at Air Malta until a couple of years ago! You have a business at its peak but its staff compliment are running on half days! Needless to say, only God knows how much overtime was paid to make up! It is like having a restaurant giving away vacation leave over the Xmas period!

The same logic applies to the Civil Service. If you have foreigners coming to carry out business and arriving say from Frankfurt at noon, that day is lost because of this silly practise!

Malta should wake up to the year 2012! Good Governance starts off with good working practises. That said the same logic holds for the Parliament Business. How come it comes to a complete standstill over summer!

OIM indeed!!!!!

G. Attard

Oct 8th 2012, 13:32

"These negotiations would have been a perfect opportunity for the Government to abolish the half-days"

How can this goverment abolish half-days when he is just setting an example by not entering in the parliament. This is just another manouvre to win some votes.

Mark. Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 13:24

Under a PL government, yes, everything (including work) will be considered a luxury - except water and electricity bills.

Robert Attard

Oct 8th 2012, 13:24

What Luxury? The less hours worked in summer are compensated during the winter months. Even, vacation leave is deducted accordingly. And for the record, they are not half days but 75% of a day. Get your facts right before you speak.

Ronnie Callus

Oct 8th 2012, 13:23

Dr. Tancred Tabone if so this should commence from top to bottom to give example and not giving themselves a 500 euro per week increase. Likewise your salary should be touched.

Sandra Davis

Oct 8th 2012, 13:17

When I lived in the Uk, there was a time when I worked in the Civil Service, which implemented a flexi work schedule. We had to be at the office no later than 9am, and could not leave before 3pm, with a minimum 30 minutes for our lunch break. To make up the required weekly hours, we could start as early as 7am and stay as late as 6pm. Outside the 9am to 3pm parameter, you could add your hours to accomodate your own requirements. This worked very well as everyone could still work the mandatory number of hours while having the flexibility to say, go to a school meeting first or have a 2 hour lunch to do an errand. If one needed a morning or afternoon off, the hours were worked in advance and one would simply clear with one's manager the day when they would be coming in late or leaving early. If it works in the UK, which has a much larger number of civil servants, with proper implementation and supervision,it can work here. It would also help to ease traffic congestion if starting and leaving times were a bit staggered.
The public had set hours during which they could attend the offices, thus ensuring there was never a time when someone turned up and there was no one there to assist them.

M Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 13:15

That this agreement is going to be signed now,has nothing to do with any coming election.

The last agreement was up tp 2010 so it was long overdue.

I am no government employee but to say that all civil servants do not give a day's work is not right. Many , not most ,do work and give their best during their working day.

L Zammit

Oct 8th 2012, 13:15

At first i used to share same opinion. then gave it a thought .... actually Government employees make up for the less summer hours during winter. if i am not mistaken, in winter Government employees start at 0745hrs till 1715 hrs .... so in winter they end up working more than 40 hrs per week. have you ever asked yourself: "Would I go to a Government Department between 2pm and 4pm?" ... be honest in your answer. we all know how hot it is during that time during summer, and besides we have eGov. In spite of this, I will also suggest including the opening of various departments (the ones mostly needed) between 4pm and 7pm (rather than working till 5pm during summer) Such opening hours, will be useful for people who work. In this way the service to the public is more convenient and working hours are used more in a beneficial way.

Joe Morana

Oct 8th 2012, 13:15

"the Chamber could not understand the logic of the “generous wage increase” for public servants in the €60 million deal that will be signed this week"
Perhaps The Chamber is mixing up the marginal wages increase of 2.5% anuallly including COLA (eroded at source by tax and NI contributions) as agreed to by some unions iro Public Service employes with the self granted 500/600 Euro increase per week of Cabinet members , the 230 Euro per week including uncapped pensions granted to the Judiciary.
One also wonders why the Chamber and the Malta Employers Association were not so adamant regarding the increase in productivity iro Cabinet members, parliamentarians and the judciary......!!!!

Henry S Pace

Oct 8th 2012, 13:14

' ‘Government should have ended half-days’

Does Mr Tabone know that Public Service employees still work 40 hours a week. In winter 1st |October to

the 15 June all employees work longer to compensate for the summer season - 15th June/ 30th September.

MT Caruana

Oct 8th 2012, 13:10

And tell me ..is Gonzi supposed to do so , a fortnight before election!!!!!!

Stanley Farrugia

Oct 8th 2012, 13:10

I am not a civil servant myself however, since government employees work the extra hours during winter i see nothing problematic. They are not taking anything that does not belong to them nor anything that they are paid for.

Anthony Pace

Oct 8th 2012, 13:04

In most EU countries a full-time worker is one who works 37.5 hours a week (one half day a week).

That should have been introduced in Malta a decade ago when we joined the EU. Abolishing half-days in summer is sensible as it does not exist in other countries of Western and Eastern Europe.

How can one communicate with the rest of Europe only in the morning? All goverment offices are now air-conditioned so workers can work throughout the day in summer.

Workers should be paid a decent wage to get out of this situation of holding two or more jobs simultaneously. It exists only here but nowhere else in the world. It's called moonlighting in other countries.

I hope that an incoming goverment will take head of people's wishes.

David Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 13:03

Some of them are paid and do not even attend for work. SHAMEFUL. Accountability does not exist in our country.

A Attard

Oct 8th 2012, 13:02

Mr. Tabone, "in the rest of Europe workers are accepting cuts and not increases in theirpay". Would you be so kind as to tell us why.
Mr. Farrugia, the government is the public servants' employer and does not form îpart of the Malta Employers Association. Therefore how on earth the said Association takes it upon itself to dictate what the government does or does not in respect of its employees? Please rest assured that government employees, in general, give their utmost.

Sarah Zammit

Oct 8th 2012, 13:02

Half days for civil servants are not a luxury. They work for them during the 9 winter months!

Following the same line of taught many are having why teachers' hours are never questioned? Civil servants at least work for the half days during the winter, but teachers? They don't even work a 40hr week! And summer its not a half day work for them but an off day!

And hey, do they work more for the christmas hols? Or for the easter hols? And can we compare the majority of the civil servants' pays with those of the teachers?! Certainly not!

joe vella

Oct 8th 2012, 12:59

mr tabone the name of the game is VOTES, VOTES, VOTES, whatever it takes, whatever it costs!

increased productivity- what is this?
try calling any government department - it takes ages to get through, in most cases you just give up!
and try locating somebody 30mins before take off time!!
everybody knows what is going on, except the ministers poor blokes!
and now that the public service employees will get their piece of the cake, who knows maybe this could be the platform for the ministers to get their 550 euro per week increase back!

Charles Micallef

Oct 8th 2012, 12:58

Mr Tabone you are so right, 100% correct that Government should have end half-days’ but you should also be aware that this is a hot issue to bring just before a general election.

One can never understand why civil servants office workers give the taxpayer 50% of their work contribution during the summer months, after all these offices are all furnished with an air-conditioning system, so one cannot understand the reason why they have to work half days!

Joseph Mifsud

Oct 8th 2012, 12:54

Its obvious that the government can't abolish the "half days" on the eve of an election.....it would mean less votes.

David Smith

Oct 8th 2012, 12:50

Instead of repeating fallacies that are not supported by any evidence, can someone quote one study which shows that summer working times for government employees has a negative impact on the country's economy? Other European Meditterranean countries also adopt the same schedule.
If anything, private enterprise should do its utmost to adopt the same practice.

B Cassar

Oct 8th 2012, 12:50

Maybe government should have ended half days but the same it should have:

1. revised the public sector's hours of work to make it balanced throughout the whole year
2. revised the extensive holidays, half days, time off and early ending of school hours
3. reduced drastically the holidays of parliament because there is no joke bigger than the few days that the parliament actually works.

May I remind also that with all due respect - the people who work less hours in this country are schoold employees. Like all other countries (if we have to compare) school hours should be extended more and all the holidays that make parents leave of both never enough should definitely be reduced. And I know there will be alot of teachers that will want to 'kill' me for this comment but unfortunately what is always in the eye of those who want to increase the hours of work are only the half days but no one thinks about other sectors that don't even work 40 hours a day. And don't tell me that teachers work at home cause with today's life many employees do it. I still answer work emails when I'm sick, I still take phone calls when I'm on leave and it's not the first time that I went to work even though I was sick.

I would definitely abolish half days if I got working hourse from 8:00am to 2:00pm all year round!

Anthony Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 12:48

What about Teachers? All summer off?????

Ian Mamo

Oct 8th 2012, 12:46

If you are going to terminate half days then apply overtime and not TIME IN Lieu.

David Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 12:45

Dear Malta Employers Association,

Did ever one of your members give an increase to their hard working and low income employees when the efficiency and productivity was high. I do not thing so and very probably would never do.

Its true that your members invest in the companies they own but you know also that you cannot have profits for your investments without the workers that work for you. There is a very great difference between the money the companies make and the amount of wages they pay.

About the half days. I had the impression that the owners of any enterprise is professional. But I think not because if the Government departments work half days why do your members want to use them in the afternoon.

I think that you cannot manage your priorities and time wisely. What about the many online systems that the government invested from our taxes. I hope that you know that they exist.

TRY TO BE MORE PROFESSIONAL.

Raymond Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 12:43

What about teachers then, 30 hr week plus all the holidays!

Raymond Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 12:39

Correct me if I'm wrong but the civil servants work longer hours during the winter to make up for the summer half days! Don't they??

Karl Brincat

Oct 8th 2012, 12:38

Tancred stick to making your millions ! This has been a long negotiated agreement which we are now happy to have ! Thank you.

Joseph Camilleri

Oct 8th 2012, 12:37

It is very easy for some to hit out at workers.

The Government should adopt a system which is being widely used by many other entities. A lot of Governmental sections are adopting the half day 7am-1.30 pm 6 day week system. It gives a lot of opportunity to families to spend more time together and gives opportunities for flexi time . More work is generated because after all the 40 hour week should not be restrected to just 5 working days in bulk. Certain work places can be more flexible in time and why not give workers who deal with the public work evenings if they wish to do so. It gives the opportunity to give the citizen more chances of satisfaction.

Half days are not a luxury half days are a necessity in many cases.

Mr John Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 12:34

I belive half days had been instituted when government offices did not have airconditioning. However, now all offices have air conditioning these hald days remain?? Quite mysterious

A Galea

Oct 8th 2012, 12:34

Tancred Tabone seems to be under the misapprehension that government employees' first priority is to provide convenience to the public!! Civil servants are simply there because it is a safe cushy job, nothing else.

Mr M Spiteri

Oct 8th 2012, 12:33

this is all crap. You do not need to abolish hakf days to be productive. By any chance do we know how much it would cost to keep all those a/c running and who will pay for it?

Joseph Camilleri

Oct 8th 2012, 12:31

Personally, for a work life balance, I would rather see an 0800-1600 or a 0900-1700 time frame adopted. The current system of working more in winter to balance the time in summer (ie 42.5h per week on a yearly average) is far too long in winter and far too short to get sensible work done in summer. But I agree that the half days need to be exterminated.

Mr Mike Farrugia

Oct 8th 2012, 12:31

So should Parlamentarians. Other countries keep on meeting during summer and during the whole week not just 3 days a week.

Paul Ellul

Oct 8th 2012, 12:31

Well said Mr. Tabone and Mr. Farrugia. GonziPN is just not in touch with reality and with the country's needs.

And the economic situation in Malta is not that bad because on very simple fact. The Administration is fast asleep, thus letting the private enterprise get on with what they are doing.

Joe A. Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 12:30

Dear Mr. Tabone,

Are you being a simpleton or what?

Can't you understand that an election is only a few weeks to go and desperate times require desperate measures!

E. Azzopardi

Oct 8th 2012, 12:01

Definitely concur. Our government harps on production and in this day and age and after eight years in the EU, our government offices are closed for half days in summer. It does not make sense, any sense at all.

It does not hold any water to say that they work half an hour more in winter. The country needs the offices open full day in summer. These half days are hindering tourism, for example. Deduct the half hour in winter and work full days in summer.

I would have thought that this "productive government" ( but then talk is cheap, in fact in Malta it is "very cheap) would have done away with the half days. But alas, and very sadly they did not have the guts to do what we should have done a long long time ago. Even in third world country, those who work, work full days all year long.

John Azzopoardi

Oct 8th 2012, 11:56

No where in the world do government employees get paid in full and are off for half a day's work

Eve Axiaq

Oct 8th 2012, 11:48

Government offices nowadays are all airconditioned, so government employees can work full days in cool environment during hot weather.

S. Attard

Oct 8th 2012, 11:01

I agree with Mr Tabone. I am sure that the vast majority of the Maltese people agree with you. The Government is very generouys with the Government employees, even when our economy cannot afford this. The half days for Government employees is absurd. Today with airconditions and other modern apparatus working haalf days in summer is ridiculous. But we have a Government that in spite of the fact that our Country has a heavy debt, made by the same Government (GonziPN) is still allowing 30,000 government employees working half days in summer - 3 whole months. It's absurd. But for this Government VOTES come FIRST

matthew tanti

Oct 8th 2012, 10:28

so much for the work life balance - not everyone is a workaholic!

E Gatt

Oct 8th 2012, 10:12

Financial services and online-gaming companies have been one of Malta’s major success stories in the last few years.

Most of the government departments have not kept up with the massive increase in the number of clients, that need their services. Granted, government my-gov.mt has been a great help, however sometimes clients need to speak to or visit government offices including the Inland Revenue, VAT Department, MFSA and others.

I think the VAT Department takes the prize for the most bizarre time table:

Winter Hours (1st October - 15th June)
Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays From 1.30pm To 4.00pm
Tuesdays and Fridays From 8.30am To 11.30am

Summer Hours (16th June - 30th September)
Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays From 8.30am To 11:30am
Mondays and Wednesdays From 2.00pm To 4:00pm

In my opinion these government entities should be open to the public from 8.30 to 5.30, Monday to Friday, January to December. Introduce shifts if necessary.

carlos ellul

Oct 8th 2012, 10:08

The only time these guys turn into socialist is when businesses need some sort of bailout.

Sue Borg

Oct 8th 2012, 09:34

As far as I am aware, Civil Servants work more than a 40 hour week over nine months, thus giving them the possiblity to work on half days over the summer months! And, needless to say, some top Civil Servants hardly get an halfs days at all.

So, can someone responsible for the Civil Service explain matters once and for all? Why does the Department of Information always so quick in issuing political statments supporting the Government, but never interested in defending and clarifying matters with regards to the Public Service?