Three months after 113 workers lost their jobs at Bortex, a Chinese company employing Chinese workers intends to move into one of the factory where Maltese workers used to earn a living.
News that the Chinese-owned Leisure Clothing Company – a company employing a sizeable contingent of Chinese workers, whose accommodation and food costs are deducted from their wage bill – intends to relocate its operations from Corradino to Bulebel, in a factory previously used by Bortex, was confirmed by GWU official Roberto Cristiano.
Angry former Bortex employees who contacted MaltaToday expressed dismay that the same plant in which they used to work will now host poorly-paid Chinese employees, subcontracted by the same company that fired them.
But MaltaToday is informed that the Chinese company had been subcontracted by Bortex before the company’s closure.
GWU official Roberto Cristiano confirmed that the Chinese company has applied to relocate its plant to Bulebel.“They intend to move their factory from the former location to the Bortex plant. I have already given this information to the workers,” Cristiano told MaltaToday.
Although the Chinese employees of Leisure Clothing are legally employed in Malta and abide by minimum working conditions, accommodation and lodging provided by the company are deducted from their pay, thus making them cheaper to employ than Maltese workers.
Bortex will close its industrial operations in September laying off 113 workers. But Bortex intends to continue using Malta as its operating base, employing 129 people in the departments covering design, product development, marketing, sales and administration functions.
 
jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt