Changes to tender conditions to combat precarious employment situations were unfortunate and ill-timed given that discussion within MCESD on the subject was ongoing with various constituted bodies discussing the matter internally and finalising their position papers, the Malta Chamber said.
It said in a statement that while it appreciated the sense of urgency and timely action, the OPM should have delayed this crcular to allow social partners to conclude their ongoing discussion.
“By acting prematurely and laying down the new regulations in haste, Government has clearly undermined the discussions that were and still are taking place at MCESD” president David G. Curmsaid.
He added this might be perceived as another instance in which Government acted in disregard of the collective opinion of the social partners represented at MCESD.
The Chamber said it feared that the revised regulations would create a number of negative effects on the private sector and on SMEs in particular.
The conditions as published eliminated the opportunity for certain SMEs to participate in the public tender process because it precluded them from acting as sub-contractors, it said.
The Malta Chamber expressed concern that the amended conditions ran contrary to its advice recently expressed in the press as well as during the relevant MCESD meeting when it said that any further regulation introduced in relation to precarious work should be directed solely at those sectors found to be susceptible to the practice and should not encompass the entire labour market.
The amendments also ran counter to the declared spirit of the new administration in favour of SMEs’ better integration in the public procurement system and its declared stance against bureaucracy.
Reiterating its full opposition to any situation that led to worker exploitation, the Chamber called for an immediate revision of the changes with a view to ascertain flexibility in the labour market and to allow for consolidation, specialisation and integration amongst local SMEs.