Nepalese Man Recounts Long And Arduous Journey Towards Becoming A Waiter In Malta
Malta has become a magnet for job seekers from around the globe, with its growing economy outpacing by far the local labour pool.
With the latest data showing that 107,406 foreigners are working in Malta, the social fabric of this small Mediterranean island is rapidly changing, raising a plethora of economic and social concerns.
However, it is worth taking a look at the humans behind these numbers and the unexpected realities some of them face for the sake of obtaining a decent job in Malta.
Take Adesh*, a Nepalese man who used to work as a hotel bar manager in Dubai.
Speaking to Lovin Malta, Adesh said he used to pocket €500 a month in his previous job but that his rent, bills and food costs were all taken care of.
“I kept around €500 in my pocket at the end of the month working as a hotel bar manager in Dubai but all my expenses there were taken care of. I decided to move to Malta, do the same thing, and pocket more,” he said.
While in Dubai, he was approached by a representative of an employment agency who told him he could earn even more if he moves to Malta.
“He told me I would make €1,000 a month and that, just like my previous Dubai job, all rent, bills and food expenses would be covered by the employer. I was promised double of what I was currently making.”
Adesh had to fork out over €6,000 for the flights and official paperwork required to take the plunge, but the offer was so persuasive that he took the risk, dreaming of his new life on the island.
He signed a contract with the agency before flying to Malta but he admitted he didn’t read it because he trusted them.
However, once he touched down in Malta, things started to go sideways pretty fast. He was put in touch with a Nepalese man who guided him to stay at a cramped apartment in Attard. Far from being covered by his employer, he found out that he had to pay €250 a month in rent and share his living space with tens of other migrants.
“When I arrived there was no accommodation ready as promised to me in Dubai. I called him a lot until he told me to go to an apartment shared by a lot of other workers and I still had to pay for it myself”
It didn’t stop there. When Adesh showed up for his first day of work at a leading Maltese hotel, he expected to step back into his comfortable role as a manager.
However, he was informed he was going to work as a waiter instead.
And, as per the contract, the hotel didn’t pay him directly but via the agency, who took a significant cut for themselves. Adesh said he was left with €800 a month, out of which he had to deduct rent money, which amounted to around 40% less than other waiters who were employed directly by the hotel.
An employment lawyer told Lovin Malta that while this practice could well be viewed as unethical, it is not illegal.
With all the bills piling up and still needing to send money home, Adesh felt stuck. He missed Dubai and thought about going back since his old job was still available.
However, when he tried to quit his job in Malta, he hit another brick wall as his one-year contract stipulated that he had to pay a fee of around €4,000 if he left prematurely. He felt trapped in a foreign country and didn’t know what to do.
“I felt scammed and lied to, the conditions were must worse compared to my work in Dubai. I wanted to go back but my contract obliged me to finish my contract or else I would have to €4,000 to the agency. I could not afford it I already gave them almost all my savings to come here”
Luckily for Adesh, his colleagues took notice of his situation and spoke to the hotel’s management. Recognising his situation, the management told him that while he was legally bound to fulfil his contract, he would employ him directly as soon as the year was up.
Once the year was up, the hotel stuck to their word.
“Thankfully with the help of my colleagues, I managed to get a direct contract with the hotel and it will help me recover financially”
Adesh is still working at this same hotel, where he now pockets a full salary, meaning his condition has significantly improved. Yet his story is just one of many people from far-flung corners of the world placing themselves in very precarious situations for the sake of landing a basic job in Malta.
*The man’s name has been changed to protect his identity
Cover image: Stock photos
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