As everyone can see, Malta is invaded with foreign workers, not only EU citizens but also from outside the EU. According to what is being said, the number of these workers is going to increase in the near future.

No wonder, wherever you go, you are faced with foreigners who either stare at you flabbergastedly when you speak to them or else, they simply reply – don’t understand. I find this very unfair on our country to say the least.

Scanning the Situations Vacant column (May 3) for a friend who wishes to change her job, I came across this advert: “Wanted full-time English-speaking Serbian, Russian, Maltese.”  And I asked myself: “How come a Maltese employee is third down the line for the prospective job? Is it because a Maltese expects a decent wage while the Serbian/Russian or whoever, is happy with what is being offered?”

While on the subject of English speaking, I find it really embarrassing for us, Maltese citizens, to have to use a foreign language to make ourselves understood in our own country whether we are doing some shopping, or out for a coffee, lunch or dinner. And this is being done when certain Maltese organisations are doing their utmost to promote our language as much as possible.

I suggest (for the umpteenth time), that before foreigners are given employment in Malta, they should be asked to attend a crash course, enabling them to communicate with people. I remember very clearly, although many years have passed, the German Maltese Circle used to organise short courses in the German language for students who wanted to work in the tourist industry. This was when German tourism in Malta from that country was still in its infancy.

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