The General Workers’ Union (GWU) recently expressed its support towards the Maltese government’s decision to streamline the indiscriminate issuance of work permits for third-country nationals (TCN), while calling to attention the state of working conditions for such workers.

GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja said that if food courier companies and taxi driver companies complain of the “high turnover” in workers, this is an indication of poor working conditions in these sectors, ultimately leading to workers leaving such jobs for better and more dignified work.

“The GWU agrees that workers should not be brought in from third countries unless there is an actual need for them, otherwise they risk being exploited,” Bugeja expressed in a statement issued on 5th August. 

“The GWU supports the government’s strategy on this matter and does not believe that this policy direction affects the operations of these companies as they claim.”

Bugeja referred to a statement from the taxi mobility platform Bolt, which has attributed recent price increases and waiting times as third-country national (TCN) contractors had been denied work permits or renewals of said permits.

“The first step these companies should take is to take responsibility for their workers’ conditions, as happens in other sectors, thereby reducing the need for so many workers to replace those who leave after a short time,” Bugeja said.

Bugeja continued by saying that taxi drivers and food couriers who have spoken to the GWU have confirmed they are unhappy with their current working conditions, most specifically the wages they receive, and on top of that, the costs they have to front for protective clothing, the rental of motorcycles for them to deliver the food, and long waiting times to be allotted business.

“All of this leads to a continuous turnover of workers, as many leave at the first opportunity for better work,” Bugeja stressed.

In light of this, the GWU recently held a meeting with delivery couriers working with the Bolt platform and called for greater vigilance and enforcement against those who are still exploiting these workers.

“The single work permit system was created to tackle the lack of human resources at any given time. Now with the way the system is being abused, these companies cannot guarantee good working conditions and decent jobs for these workers,” Bugeja said.

The GWU concluded by appealing for the necessary steps to be taken by these private companies to improve the conditions of these workers, in a bid to reduce the continuous need for new work permits for workers from third countries in these sectors, while ensuring workers can be guaranteed a decent quality of life in Malta.

What do you make of this statement?