The Ministry for Public Works and Planning and the United Workers Union (UĦM) have signed a new sectoral agreement that will be covering health and safety officers within the Public Service.
The majority of these workers work in the Ministry for Public Works and Planning and their work, among others, involves protecting the health and safety of workers on the job site .
This agreement will see an improvement in the working conditions of the employees, which includes an improvement in the salary structure, new benefits and better working conditions. The agreement will be ensuring the continuity of efficient work and necessary training, while for the first time in twenty years, the officers will be given a new benefit according to the rank they are in.
In his address during the signing of the agreement, the Minister for Public Works and Planning Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi emphasized that, “At every level in our country, both in the public sector and in the private sector, we need to encourage health and safety in the workplace.”
Minister Zrinzo Azzopardi claimed that while progress has been made when it comes to working conditions for Maltese and Gowis, there is still room for improvement in terms of health and safety on the workplace.
Through this new agreement the Government is showing its commitment to be an example by improving the working conditions of its workers in this field. The Ministry for Public Works and Planning with the help of other constituted bodies is offering all the necessary resources to continue to instigate more work in this field.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Carlos Tabone said how through this agreement the Public Service will be investing in its workers, both through better conditions and in order to raise the quality and safeguard the workers on the lant of work.
The Director of UħM Mario Sacco meant that although the work of these workers is done in silence they do invaluable work because they safeguard people’s lives. This agreement will also serve to attract more people to this sector. Present for the signing of this agreement was also the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister (People and Standards) Joyce Cassar.
Photos (MPWP)
