(Updated with UHM statement)
The Malta Union of Teachers has written to the Minister for Education seeking better conditions for child care assistants at the Foundation for Educational Services (FES).
"While the union notes with satisfaction the growth of this sector in our country, it cannot understand how the FES, which is a government entity and therefore should be a model employer, is employing child care assistants with conditions similar to those in precarious employment," the union said.
"The conditions of this grade are so terrible that with the first opportunity, persons employed in this grade are leaving the centre to the detriment of the centre itself and the children. Such conditions not only include dismal remuneration but a series of other issues which need tackling at the earliest. These include exploitation of working hours and frequent changes in shifts especially since child care assistants are considered part-timers but are still subject to the system of rotation of hours."
The MUT appealed to the government to invest properly in Child Care Centres by adhering to the first principle of any educational and formational institution, which was proper conditions and treatment to its frontline employees.
Learning support, kindergarten assistants not happy with MUT service - UHM
In a statement this evening, the Union Haddiema Maghqudin said that an exercise was currently underway to find which union enjoyed majority among these workers.
The UHM said learning support and kindergarten assistants who were happy with the service they were getting from the MUT and were turning to the UHM for help, with some even considering changing union membership.
Through its behaviour, the MUT was lengthening the process for FES workers to get the suitable conditions agreed upon between the UHM and the government, it said.