Malta Freeport had strongly denied claims by Opposition leader Joseph Muscat that Maltese workers were being sidelined in preference for foreigners with lower pay.

The company said the situation was the opposite and Maltese workers were being consistently engaged as multi-skilled operators, despite the international crisis.

Malta Freeport said it engaged six workers from Sri Lanka last year after several calls for the engagement of specialised quay crane operators and talks with the union. The six workers were offered the same conditions as Maltese workers.

See:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20090523/local/maltese-workers-being-sidelines-for-foreigners-at-the-freeport-muscat