An “employment passport” could help weed out employment irregularities in the hospitality industry and improve the island’s tourism product, according to the General Workers’ Union.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, GWU general secretary Josef Bugeja said the “passport” would be a virtual curriculum vitae which tracked all the places a person had worked in the tourism industry.
The scheme would also work as a deterrent, as employers who offered poor working conditions could be tagged in an online system which named and shamed them and, if necessary, alerted the authorities.
Mr Bugeja said the union had worked on the idea some 12 years ago as part of a Europe-wide project that was eventually scrapped.
He was now calling on the government to hold a meeting with the union and other stakeholders, such as the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, to discuss introducing the system at a national level.
“This is something we believe in and we are willing to work with different players, including employers, to implement it. It could be beneficial for the industry as a whole,” he said, adding that the union was the only one with a section dedicated to the hospitality sector.
Mr Bugeja said many in the industry did not believe the sector offered a career opportunity but rather tended to see jobs as either as a stepping stone or a last resort.
The passport, however, would be a detailed skills and experience card which could help career advancement, he said.
“There is so much more to the industry than simple jobs. Look at waiters for instance. There are many different types of waiters working in venues from small cafés to silver service establishments. Listing skills and experiences can help future employment opportunities,” he said.
A similar initiative was launched by the Building Industry Consultative Council earlier this year. The construction sector skills card ensures workers are certified for competence and safety training. It also distinguishes between apprentices, labourers/operators, skilled labourers with at least three years’ experience, people with managerial experience and professionals such as architects.
Mr Bugeja said a recent review of collective agreements signed by its members in the hospitality sector had revealed “mediocre” salaries, leave discrepancies, and precarious employment.
He also lamented that the “strong economy” often touted by the government and the financial boost from this year’s record tourist arrivals were not trickling down to the hospitality sector’s workers.
Mr Bugeja raised concerns that this, along with the employment of more foreigners, could be contributing to the island “losing its good service reputation”. “This is an important part of our economy and we should do our utmost to nurture it,” he said.