The Malta Employers’ Association has called upon government to issue a clarification with respect to the minimum rates of tendering in the cleaning and security sectors.

It said that operators in these sectors were given to understand that no tender for cleaning and security services was to be accepted at a rate of less than €5.78 per hour (excluding VAT) with effect from March 10.

But recent public pronouncements were misinterpreted to mean that the €5.78 was the rate going to be paid to the workers.

The MEA said that, over the past weeks, employers in these sectors were approached by their employees requesting payment of €5.78 per hour, and even unions were being pressured into making claims to this effect. This was creating  confusion and uncertainty as companies were not in a position to pay these rates.

Although the idea of establishing a minimum rate for tendering was a step in the right direction to ensure that employees received at least their minimum legal entitlement, the tendering rate of €5.78 would barely cover the national minimum wage, other employment related costs and administrative expenses.

Last year, the MEA issued a joint statement with the General Workers Union recommending an hourly tendering rate of €7.50 for companies to have a safe margin within which to operate.