When one observes what is happening on the job market, one sees a huge influx of foreign workers. On their arrival in Malta, some foreign workers do not consider joining a union of their choice, others are not allowed to consider it and others are even threatened if they do so. 

The UĦM Voice of the Workers has long been calling for low income workers to join a union. The reason is that the job market is progressing at a fast rate and if certain parameters are not established and a balance is reached between workers and employers (and the balance at the moment is tilted in favour of employers) these same workers will lose out. 

The solution lies in social dialogue between the employers and the unions. Workers and employers who are not part of the social dialogue are causing a problem to those who are a part of it. 

It is therefore important to understand that low income workers should be obliged to join a union almost in a paternalistic way as such workers are vulnerable and need protection. 

Just as insurance kicks in to cover damages incurred when there are road accidents, so can incidents happen on the job market that workers should be ‘insured’ against. Those who have an income of over €60,000 have the means to protect themselves, but those living on a minimum wage of about €9,000 a year need protection. 

The UĦM Voice of the Workers has proposed the setting up of a fund to be used to invest in human resources in the Maltese working world. Such a fund would be administered by constitutional bodies and would focus on research, training and ongoing development. 

Research helps to provide information to feed into the drawing up and implementation of the  Active Labour Market Policy i.e. Jobs+. The fund would be financed by a small fee taken from the pay of each worker that is equivalent to the membership fee of a trade union. It goes without saying that this proposal would apply to any employee who is not a member of a trade union.