Security staff at the Cottonera Sports Complex and Tal-Qroqq National Pool will be paid less than the minimum wage unless the government intervenes, the General Workers’ Union has warned.

The union called on Sports Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech to withhold a contract issued by the Maltese Sports Council for the provision of security services.

The contract was awarded by tender to Executive Security Services for the rate of €5.58 per hour.

“Once VAT is removed, the per hour rate does not allow the employment of security guards according to the national minimum wage with the minimum benefits of employment including leave, sick leave and statutory bonuses,” the unions said.

It claimed this was another example of the government “sponsoring illegal or illicit employment practices”, despite it being expected to do the opposite. It should promote better conditions through its “promised special unit” in the tenders department to ensure sub-contracted services respect employment condition of workers, it said.

“It is apparent the government is taking little interest in this mission, even though in its electoral programme this had been promised.”

The GWU also pointed out that the company in question was one of several security companies allegedly engaging workers “as self employed”, and the government had promised to counter such situations in its electoral programme.