The number of foreigner workers apprehended working illegally has shot up by 55%, the Employment and Training Corporation’s annual report has revealed.
The number of foreign workers caught working illegally increased from 195 in 2006 to 302 in 2007. Only 71 foreign workers were apprehended in 2005.
In 3,327 inspections undertaken by the ETC’s compliance unit, 2,114 cases of law infringements were found.
According to the ETC’s annual report most infringements were identified in the hospitality, construction, health services and retail.
The ETC found 1,589 cases involving workers whose employment was not reported to the ETC. A total of 1,800 were removed from the employment register after being found working while registering or for failing to participate in a scheme or service.
Employers are being given three months to regularise workers found working illegally. Those employers who fail to do so are taken to court. Although 1,817 less inspections were carried out than last year, the number of infringements found only decreased by 151, an indication that inspections are being more targeted.
According to the ETC the number of infringements was a result of staff having to work on court cases.
Another 5,797 persons have participated in ETC courses, 76% of which were registered unemployed. In collaboration with INTEGRA Foundation the ETC organised a course for refugees and asylum seekers, which included orientation in Maltese culture and labour market as well as training in job seeking skills. 18 trainees participated in this course.
The highest demand was registered for the call centre course and Microsoft digital literacy curriculum.
1,638 unemployed persons who have been unemployed for more than year have been trained by the ETC during the past year. Only 127 of these long-term unemployed were placed in employment. Another 85 were placed in a Work Start Scheme.
Yet the report states that “despite countless submissions for training courses an job interviews the remaining caseload of long-term unemployed persons still offers a challenge in respect to work placements.”
The ETC’s report also shows that the number of persons whose main income derives from part time employment has increased by 1984 in the past year.
Over the past year there was a 19% drop in registered unemployed persons aged between 16 and 29. On the other hand there was a slight increase in the number of unemployed over 50 years old.

jdebono@mediatoday.com.mt