Air Malta apron workers gathered in front of the Office of the Prime Minister on Monday morning to protest against the sudden changes in their working conditions.

Around 50 workers gathered in Valletta insisting on a meeting with Tourism Minister Konrad Mizzi, as they lament changes to their shifts.

Loader Charles Cuschieri told the Times of Malta that a new shift system has been forced on several departments of the national airline, which meant they would have to work “unacceptable” hours.

Workers who gathered on the steps of the Auberge de Castille said the decisions ostensibly were being taken by Air Malta’s senior management without the consent of Dr Mizzi.

“So we came here to see what’s going on,” one irate employee said.

Air Malta has been in the headlines recently, as the company last week posted a profit for the first time in more than a decade.

The profit of €1.2 million was the result of an increase in revenue of over €7 million generated by a rise in passenger traffic of around 11 per cent and decreasing fuel costs.

The airline had registered a loss of €10.8 million in 2017.