Malta is more than ever the land of ‘opportunity’. The land where even if you lack basic skills or lack any motivation to get some sort of qualification, there is still a job waiting for you on the State payroll, be it within the public sector or through the complex and at times illogical practice of outsourcing. Having the right connections and affiliations is considered an asset.

Malta Employers Association Director General Joe Farrugia recently stoked controversy when he claimed that unskilled workers are taking a pay cut in return for a job on the State payroll. Though government refuted such claims evidence on the ground suggests otherwise. The jobs on offer range from meter readers despite the fact that the process these days is fully automated, to hairdressers with the Gozo ministry – the same entity which some years ago kept paying for the service of securities at the Azure Window, months after this iconic landmark had collapsed!

This is also the time to start dishing out promotions left right and centre, as was the case of the army promotions on the eve of the 2017 general election.

The jobs for votes campaign also encompasses indirect employment on government’s books through the practice of outsourcing certain core services provided by the State. Under this model employees work within state entities but are answerable to the private contractor entrusted by the government to render this service. Outsourcing has become especially popular in waste management, security, cleansing and to a lesser extent clerical work. The model has proved popular as government is still dishing out jobs, without officially increasing its workforce, as the employees are not on its books though it is still forking the bill. Hence, it is avoiding to land in hot water with Brussels while harping on the mantra that the public service is not being used to dish out jobs.

If none of these routes are available, there is still the option to get employed through the Community Workers Scheme – an EU funded project supposedly to help long-term unemployed to get the necessary skills to improve their employability. Unfortunately, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this scheme has become an end rather than a means to fight unemployment.

What is even more worrying is that some are opting to leave their full-time job within the private sector to be engaged through this scheme, even at the cost of taking a pay cut? Surely, there is much more than meets the eye. Arguably, the reason could be that such low-productivity jobs make it possible earn the minimum wage with the least effort while leaving an ample window of ‘opportunity’ to do some part-time work as well. Employers within the private sector are up in arms as they cannot find Maltese workers, despite offering decent salaries. They feel that in the current form the scheme is distorting the labour market as it is no longer a level playing field. This feedback is also being received by UHM Voice of the Workers whereby shop floors are being left empty.

This situation is fuelling an employment bubble. In the long term no economy can sustain an endless stream of non-productive jobs from taxpayers’ money. One day the country’s coffers will run dry. Who will shoulder responsibility then?

UHM has long been harping that the community workers scheme should be administered by Jobs Plus directly and focus exclusively on training and improving workers employability. This will also leave more money in the workers’ pockets as no commission will be paid to the scheme operator. Furthermore, it makes no sense to outsource core government services. Such practice should only be adopted when it makes operational sense. For the time being, however, the main considerations seem to be political.