Alternattiva Demokratika – The Green Party said today that the provision of decent jobs will be a parliamentary priority for the Party.

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said, “In parliament, AD will propose legislation for a strong social model based on decent jobs rather than precarious employment. Workers’ rights feature prominently in our manifesto. Our progressive ideology and the fact that we have no ties with big business enable us to speak clearly for social justice.

“There are various examples of workers who are in precarious employment or who are not being given equal rights for equal work. Two examples include contractual workers at Mater Dei and IPSL workers.

“The Government and the Social Partners should show more determination in their fight against precarious employment. This type of work is on the increase among different categories of workers with different skills, experience and qualifications, such as with the increase of definite contractual work. The Government should ensure that its contracts are not based on precarious employment,” Michael Briguglio concluded.

AD Spokesperson for Social Policy and Civil Rights, Angele Deguara, said, “AD believes that the minimum wage in Malta should increase and should be extended to part time and contractual workers. Such an increase would help improve the quality of life of the workers and give them more spending power. It would also encourage more people to enter the formal labour market, making work pay, acting as an incentive for increased productivity. At the same time, the Government should step up its efforts to reduce ‘underground’ unemployment.”

“Although in Malta, the unemployment rate is relatively low, we still have a high rate of inactive persons (almost half the working age population).” Angele Deguara continuted, “women are not the only category which finds it difficult to access the labour market. There is still much to be done to improve access to work for persons with disability who can work but who are still facing huge difficulties. Categories who are still finding it difficult to enter the labour market are ex-prisoners, immigrants, persons with disability and persons over forty.”

“Regarding benefits which at present are available only to civil servants, the Government should share the financial burden with regards to certain benefits such as parental leave with employers, especially because most companies in Malta are SMEs. In this way workers employed in the private sector would be able to enjoy the same rights as those employed in the civil service,” Angele Deguara concluded.”

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