Employers are largely unwilling to employ former prisoners, a study by the University’s criminology department revealed yesterday.

Giving an overview of the findings, Sandra Scicluna said more than 80 per cent of employers interviewed were not ready to employ ex-convicts, with half of them citing lack of trust as the reason.

She was speaking yesterday during the launch of an EU-funded training programme for inmates promoted by the Paola local council.

Ms Scicluna said employers were more willing to change their attitude if former inmates were monitored or some form of insurance was in place to cover any eventuality.

Prisoners mostly wanted skills-oriented, manual jobs and training in social skills, the report found. The research formed part of the prepara-ory work for a training programme that will result in some 180 inmates applying for seven courses offered by the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology.

These courses will be delivered at the Corradino Correctional Facility and lecturers are being trained to understand the prison restrictions.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo said the “shocking” statistic among employers reflected how the rest of society thought.

Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia said it was in society’s best interest to have inmates find a job after leaving prison because this could deter them from returning to crime. The ministry was also in talks with employers, he added, so prisoners nearing the end of their term could start working under supervision.