Watch: Bernard Grech Says Waiters Should Know How To Speak Basic Maltese
Waiters who work in Malta should be able to speak and understand basic Maltese, Opposition Leader Bernard Grech has proposed.
During an interview on F Living, Grech said that people have a right to speak to their waiting staff in Maltese when eating out in Malta.
“I know how to speak in English but why do I have to speak in English to acquire a service in my country?” Grech questioned.
“Nowadays we’re so used to waiters not speaking in Maltese that when I went out to eat recently, a sweet waitress came up to me and I spoke to her in English. She pointed out that she’s Maltese and I apologised to her and said it’s become standard for all waiters to be foreigners.”
“I have nothing against foreign workers but we can’t keep going on like this without a plan. They must know basic Maltese. I’m proud of the Maltese language and we have a right to that service in our country.”
“However, we don’t have a right to treat them poorly just because they’re foreigners; they are humans like us and I will fight for everyone’s rights.”
Grech has previously proposed that third-country nationals should be obliged to take a test in basic Maltese after a year living in the country. Should they fail the test, they won’t be able to renew their work permit and will therefore be forced to leave the country.
He later clarified that the proposal shouldn’t be applied across the board but for certain jobs such as carers.
Do you agree with Bernard Grech?
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