Collective bargaining is currently under threat on the job market due to the presence of foreign workers. The UĦM Voice of the Workers has made it clear and will continue to make it clear that it is not biased against foreign workers but against the abuse that they are subjected to. 

The moment that foreign workers are brought here and accept inferior salaries to those that are acceptable for Maltese and Gozitan workers, they are undermining our salary structure. 

Our salaries cannot rise and when we compare with the European average we find that Maltese salaries are below the European average. 

There are currently thousands of foreign workers and 27 per cent of the Maltese job market is tailored to them. A threat is created when a Maltese worker refuses to work for less than €8 per hour and another worker accepts to work for €4 per hour. This means that the job market situation favours employers rather than Maltese workers. To keep expenses related to salaries down, the employer has the option to employ foreign workers and pay them less than the Maltese.  

The UĦM Voice of the Workers contends that our economy needs foreign workers and it could be that we need even more.  But the foreigners who come to Malta should be given the same conditions as the Maltese. The law says that everyone should be paid equal wages for equal work. It is useless following the law when these workers accept miserable conditions. The truth is that these workers are not members of a union and are not protected. 

Apart from the abuse of foreign workers, collective bargaining for Maltese and Gozitan workers has taken a hit because their salaries cannot be raised. This union does not agree with the argument that the Maltese worker does not want to work in certain sectors such as hospitality and catering. The Maltese will work if they are offered good packages. 

The UĦM Voice of the Workers says that while Maltese society has advanced and the quality of life has improved, salaries should also progress and not be held back.