Air Malta yesterday denied Labour Party claims that employees working reduced hours are being subjected to discrimination.

The airline said it fully supports family-friendly measures and a number of workers were benefitting from schemes, including teleworking, flexible and reduced hours.

“Recent restructuring agreements with the unions further embed Air Malta’s commitment to reduced hours working options and flexible rosters,” the airline said in a statement.

Air Malta was reacting to PL spokesmen Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and Justyne Caruana who said last week that workers should not suffer because they were benefiting from family-friendly measures aimed at enabling them to care for their family.

The airline said that as recently as last week it had appointed several staff members on reduced hours to new positions within the company which were made available in the new Air Malta organisational structure.

In the case of staff leaving the organisation, Air Malta said it had “gone beyond its obligations” and its collective agreement terms by recognising extended periods of absence on maternity leave and unpaid childcare leave when calculating termination benefits.