Employers wanting to engage migrants for short-term jobs will have to register with the State under proposals being considered by the government.

The move is intended to curb what Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday described as the “slave market” that goes on daily at Marsa as migrants solicit work from passers-by.

Returning to the subject for a second time in as many weeks, Dr Muscat said the time had come for the State to open its eyes to the abuse happening there every day.

Migrants are often picked up by employers to do menial jobs but the engagement is irregular and on many occasions payment falls below the minimum wage or is withheld.

“Migrants are being abused... but this also creates problems for Maltese workers who are being pressured by employers to work illegally or accept lower work conditions,” Dr Muscat said.

He did not elaborate on the proposals being considered but said discussions were under way to analyse different models to address the abuse.

“We cannot continue to turn a blind eye. This is a courageous decision and necessary to end the abuse most evident in Marsa, which has become like a slave market,” he said.

Dr Muscat said when the new rules are introduced the enforcement agencies would come down like a ton of bricks on employers who persist with the abuse. Although employer organisations and unions had raised concerns over the precarious situation in the past, no action was ever taken to address the abusive system.

kurt.sansone@timesofmalta.com