The primitive conditions in which government-employed gravediggers are forced to work are resulting in health risks and unnecessary pain for the bereaved, an investigation by The Sunday Times of Malta has revealed.

This newspaper was present during a scheduled ‘cleaning’ of graves in the early hours of the morning at the Rabat cemetery in March following a tip-off. What was witnessed beggared belief – an emotion much harder to cope with for those who faced the removal of their loved ones’ coffins.

The cleaning is a necessary process to create space for the next coffin, but the way it was handled had family members crying, shocked and angry.

The gravediggers are not to blame, because even the most basic equipment is denied them.

Men lower themselves into the grave equipped only with a pair of plastic gloves, which have to be reused, as they are not disposable. They have no protective clothing. Their skin is exposed. They do not even have a face mask to protect them from the stench and the health hazards related to the exhumation of bodies.

Each man who descends into the darkness of the grave collects the remains from disintegrated coffins and hands them to another gravedigger standing above. They are handed over in a plastic contraption that looks like a folded stretcher. Once on the surface, it is opened.

What follows is hard to watch. The clothes worn by the deceased are shaken to remove the remains inside. What emerges from this is a mixture of human bones and soiled remains, which end up in garbage bags.

The bones are removed from the rest of the remains. They are handed between the men, who must place the bones back at the bottom of the grave. At this point, the families are demanding respect and dignity for their loved ones, some have eyebrows raised, some get angry and some are just overwhelmed and break down, unable to say a word.

Some of the bones are carried across a square in Rabat – in front of people who are sitting at village bars having their morning tea – to be placed in churches against a fee. This is done when private undertakers are contracted. They are still handled in the most primitive way, largely in garbage bags.

The government is aware of the situation. Former Żebbuġ mayor Brian Bonnici was appointed manager of government cemeteries, including the largest one, known as Addolorata, in Marsa, and drew up a scathing report on the situation at the cemetery.

I can’t take the clothes home for my wife to wash. The smell is unbearable. We do it at work as we can, mostly with our hands

The report ‘Towards a change in attitude before it’s too late’ was handed over to Clive Tonna, Director of the Environmental Health Directorate. Shadow Health Minister Claudette Buttigieg tabled the report in Parliament on March 7, when Konrad Mizzi was still health minister. In that report, Mr Bonnici stressed that “change was not a luxury, but an urgent requirement”.

It was after the report was tabled in Parliament that The Sunday Times of Malta decided to witness the procedures.

Last week, this newspaper asked the Health Ministry what changes had been made since Mr Bonnici’s report. “A number of shortcomings were addressed, among which was the issue of uniforms for gravediggers and appropriate gear,” a spokeswoman said.

When this newspaper checked, sources said gravediggers were only given a T-shirt and trousers – one set for each. They are expected to remain in this clothing all day, even after they’ve spent the morning exhuming bodies.

“I can’t take the clothes home for my wife to wash. The smell is unbearable. We do it at work as we can, mostly with our hands. But it’s embarrassing to then have to attend funerals during the day to bury loved ones when we’re a mess,” one gravedigger told this newspaper.

No additional protective gear, such as masks, was given to them. They have no disposable gloves or disposable coverings for the shoes they wear. “Our shoes smell of death when you pass by them,” he added.

Gravediggers are paid among the lowest of government salaries.

The ministry said it was still looking into issues surrounding maintenance, the purchase of equipment and enhancing human resources. It added that “plans are under way for a major overhaul at the Addolorata Cemetery, which will include the addition of 3,000 graves. The participation of the private sector will be sought in this project.”

Change is an urgent requirement

Some of the main points highlighted in Brian Bonnici’s report, which was based on information he gathered from workers at the cemeteries of Addolorata, Ta’ Braxia and Rabat:

“The situation as seen from the outside, although not good, is not as ugly, urgent and precarious as when it is seen from the inside, where you can touch it with your own hands.”

“The workers have to operate in the worst possible levels of hygiene… they feel their work is a punishment.”

“Precarious work is not only about the level of pay, but also about the work environment, risk and lack of respect a worker has to face. Gravediggers are exposed to diseases and offered no protection.”

“Gravediggers are among the few in the health sector who have not been given the allowance to compensate for risks faced at work.”

“When bodies are being exhumed, you realise the health risks these people face. Their skin is exposed and can be easily bitten by fleas, which can lead to disease. This has already happened, with some [who have been bitten] on the brink of death.”

“The workers have no protection for their health. They are not even given the injection given to those who work in the sewage department.”

“In a place that falls under the health department, it is ridiculous that there is no first aid box.”

“One gravedigger fell and hurt his leg, but he had nothing with which to treat it.”

“The lack of protective equipment and proper tools results in a lack of respect for the dead.”