Employers must take the initiative to instill a volunteering interest in their workers, the Church Commission which is responsible for Pastoral Work on the Working Sphere.

It said that in foreign countries voluntary work was constantly evolving, through cooperation between employers and employees.

"One comes across terms like corporate volunteering, employer support or workplace volunteering.

"In Malta these terms are still not so familiar.

"But we believe that during this current year it happens to be high time for every employer to reflect and study these realities with a view to possibly implement same at their work place.

"The common aim among these groups is that workers perform voluntary work in the community under some form of support and encouragement by their employers."

The commission said that for such voluntary work programmes to operate properly one had to consider the company's priorities, employees' interest and community needs.

It said it was not a bad idea, for example, for a company to set up a special committee meant to identify the means of how they could draw up a voluntary work programme within their company.

Voluntary work could vary from an employer who simply acknowledged voluntary work undertaken by his workers, to help and donations in time, paid for by the company, to voluntary organisations.

The commission said there were many positive aspects that proved to be beneficial to the employer when adapting a voluntary work programme within the workplace.

A greater altruistic sense would be felt by both the employer and workers. This implied increased motivation.

Voluntary work also improved social relationships which helped employees and the employer learn more about themselves.