The Maltese economic and political scene tends to be highly sensitive to developments in STMicroelectronics [1], a multinational company that set up a semi-conductor facility in the country in 1981. The company is one of the largest private sector employers in Malta, employing about 1,500 workers
The Employment and Industrial Relations Act (EIRA) (216Kb PDF) [1], which regulates labour relations in Malta, defines ‘employment’ in relation to a trade dispute as any relationship whereby one person does work or performs services for another, ‘other than a service as a member of a disciplined
The naval dockyard had been the mainstay of the Maltese economy during colonial times. After its conversion into a commercial enterprise, it was appropriated by the Maltese government in 1968, four years after the attainment of political independence, under the name of Malta Drydocks Corporation
Since 2008, when the government announced a hefty utility regime, the increase in water and electricity rates has been an issue of debate among Maltese social partners. In 2008, all of the country’s trade unions formed a united front and organised a protest march against the imposition of these new
Malta’ national tripartite institution for social dialogue, set up in 1988 under the name of the Malta Council for Economic Development (MCED), was given legal status in 2001 by the enactment of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD [1]) Act. The trade unions represented on
Since 1990, when an incomes policy was agreed between the social partners, a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increase, based on the Retail Price Index (RPI), has been announced in every budget speech. This increase, being mandatory, is given to all workers.
The notion of employee participation [1] schemes in Malta was considered a powerful tool in the decolonisation process, as it signified a shift in the industrial relations system from one based on the British oppositional framework to a European model. One of the participation schemes involved the
The Confederation of Malta Trade Unions (CMTU [1]) was founded in 1959 and is affiliated to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC [2]) and the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC [3]). In June 2008, it had eight affiliated trade unions, including: the Union of United Workers (Union
The Industrial Tribunal is a specialised judicial body, established under the Employment and Industrial Relations Act (EIRA) (216Kb PDF) [1], and given exclusive jurisdiction over employment and industrial relations conflicts. For all intents and purposes, the tribunal serves as Malta’s industrial
The Employment and Industrial Relations Act 2002 (EIRA) (216Kb PDF) [1] - the main piece of legislation governing employment relations in Malta - provides for family-friendly measures for workers. The act grants unpaid leave to parents to take care of a child (natural, adopted or in legal custody)