Learning Support Educators should not pay for mandatory training

Francis Zammit Dimech presents working conditions proposals of Unions and SMEs at the European Parliament

“Learning Support Educators should not pay for mandatory training. This is unacceptable. If training is mandatory and required by the employer, it needs to be provided by the employer at no additional cost for the worker. Of course there needs to be a guarantee that investment made in the employee is then reaped back and that the employee gives a reasonable duration of service for the training given.”  MEP Francis Zammit Dimech who is the EPP Group Rapporteur on Working Conditions within the Legal Affairs Committee, made these remarks at the European Parliament in Brussels during a discussion on a new directive being proposed by the Commission seeking to improve working conditions across the EU.

Earlier this week Zammit Dimech met with various Unions representing workers and representatives of businesses and small, medium and micro enterprises to listen to their concerns and proposals on Woking conditions. During the meeting Adrian Casha from the Union of Cabin Crew (AirMalta) remarked that the airline had engaged in a practice of not engaging prospective candidates after obliging them to complete a mandatory course for which the candidates have to pay themselves. The right of mandatory training without cost was also emphasised by Josef Vella from UHM - Voice of the Workers.

Josef Vella also spoke about the fact that some workers were approaching the union for assistance but they had no contracts to show. He emphasised that this was of detriment to the workers. Joe Farrugia from the Malta Employers’ Association (MEA) agreed that all employers had to regulate their relationship with the employees through an employment contract as this may also result in exposing the employer to a number of risks.

During the meeting Joseph Bugeja from GWU remarked that the time was up for zero hour contracts (a type of contract between an employer and a worker, where the employer is not obliged to provide any minimum working hours, while the worker is not obliged to accept any work offered) as these could lead to precarious conditions. On the other hand, in a position paper the MEA has argued that such contract can help to increase female and pensioners to participate in the Maltese labour market.  During the meeting Solidarjeta Haddiema Partit Nazzjonalista (SHPN) representative Ivan Castillo argued that more clarity was needed on predictability of work and therefore on working hours imposed outside working hours.

Discussions are also under way on parallel employment, the possibility of undertaking more than one job at a time and on the probation period with current proposals ranging from 3 months to 6 months. In the case of Malta the probation period of 6 months or 1 year were justified due to nature of employment. In a position paper the Malta Businesses Bureau (MBB) expressed that this should be decided at member state level. During the meeting Sandro Camilleri from the Police Officers Union spoke about the importance to ensure a safe working environment. Zammit Dimech took this opportunity to express solidarity with PC Simon Schembri who was seriously injured on duty.

Zammit Dimech will be now tabling a number of amendments to ensure that the views of Maltese and Gozitan stakeholders are reflected in the text proposed by the European Commission.

MEP @FrancisZD speaks against the fact that LSEs are asked to pay for mandatory training. "Both employers and employees agree that this is unacceptable", said Zammit Dimech during @EP_Legal. pic.twitter.com/NNtNYEHZh1

— EPP_MT (@EPP_MT) 21 June 2018