When he was announcing that the Legal Notice ‘Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value’ will be published to be introduced in the private sector from the beginning of next year, the Prime Minister Robert Abela meant that the Government worked as one that continues to push reforms and changes that give strength to the worker.
The Prime Minister pointed out how this was another promise fulfilled in the Government’s work program ‘Malta Flimkien’. He said that today we have not only started the discussions but as a Government we have brought about changes prompted by the social spirit. “This is a Government that believes in social dialogue and we sat around a table as we did on other initiatives such as the Social Pacts of the increase in the National Minimum Wage and in the Stability initiative,” explained the Prime Minister and he also pointed out that the social dialogue also arrived at the reform of temping agencies.
Dr. Abela said that with the change, which will mean that a contractor worker and a worker directly employed at a workplace will be paid equally for the same value of work, we will continue to strengthen workers’ rights. The same when new rights were introduced such as the increase in parental leave. “The investments that come and the places that give the best opportunities are there to give dignity and stronger rights to all workers,” stressed the Prime Minister.
He thanked everyone who was part of the design of this positive change that will affect hundreds of workers in various fields including those in tourism in the hospitality sector and also in other fields such as manufacturing. He said that these are positive changes that we have carried out with the strength of everyone.
Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul stressed that with the law that we are announcing today, we will continue to strengthen the rights and protection of workers who are employed with employment agencies, as well as improve their quality of life through wage increases so that they reach the levels of other workers in identical roles. In this way, not only did we increase the wealth in our country through an improvement in the wages of thousands of workers, but this is being done in a way that respects and recognizes the dignity and skills of the workers, and that really reflects the work and contribution they are making.
“I would like to highlight another crucial aspect of this law; that this, apart from equal pay, also ensures equal statutory working conditions as well. This means that a temping agency worker, who is hired by for example a hotel, will not only have the right to equal pay as other hotel workers working in a similar role, but will also have the right to he benefits from equal conditions such as annual leave, breaks, over-time and even protection related to health and safety,” said Dr Ellul.
Photos: OPM, DOI
