Zminijietna - Voice of the Left has welcomed Social Policy Minister John Dalli’s instructions to government contract bidders, whereby the conditions of work specified in the bid must also apply to part-timers hired by the contractors.
However, Zminijietna pointed out that other part timers are often exploited by such contractors. In a press release issued yesterday, the left-wing NGO said “these include not only workers of private contractors who are outsourced by Government, but also many part-time workers employed in private sector jobs such as retailing, catering, tourism, construction, education, cleaning, clerical work and various forms services including those offered by various franchises”.
Zminijietna emphasised that several part-time workers “are still not being granted their legal rights by private employers.” Such rights include vacation leave, sick leave and bonuses.
“Many are working long working hours yet are still forced to register as part-time. Others are forced to register as self-employed so as to avoid obtaining their legal rights,” Zminijietna said.
Another right denied to part-timers is the right to unionisation and collective bargaining.
Zminijietna concluded that such workers are afraid of reporting their employers to the authorities due to the negative repercussions they may face at work.