A security company had all its Government contracts ripped up yesterday after being found guilty of abusively employing its workers.

We will not tolerate such abuse... We will not issue warnings anymore

Kavallier Security Services Ltd was given 30 days to pack up while every government department making use of its services look for replacements.

“We will not tolerate such abuse... We will not issue warnings anymore. We will just terminate contracts,” Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said, adding that the company had breached the Industrial Relations and Employment Act between June and December last year by not giving the necessary bonuses, leave and other basic rights.

To protect the workers and encourage others to come forward in similar cases, the Government has decided to ensure the new contractors take on the employees through a transfer of business.

Contractors who had bid for the same contract will be given the right of first refusal as long as they agree to charge the same amount they had originally bid for and taking on the employees.

If no previous bidders agree to take on the workers, a new call for tenders would be issued.

Mr Fenech could not say how many contracts the company held with government departments or how many workers it employed.

“We do not have this information immediately available. Some contracts go through the Department of Contracts but smaller thresholds are departmental,” he said, adding that a memo had been issued to inform all government departments and agencies.

He said the Government had no way of knowing the employees were not being given their fair dues because the company had all its documentation in order and employees were employed ­regularly.

“But the company entered into a form of arrangement with the workers by which it did not give them their rights.

“In these cases the workers must speak up. And the message to workers is that if they speak up, we will protect them.”