Once again, the government had the chance to remove summer half-days for those employed in the public service. And once again, this chance was missed.

It is incredible how, in this day and age, when the word “competitiveness” is so popular among politicians, that the public service functions on half its pistons for the whole summer. Ironically, there are several departments in which these same employees work overtime, because it is a known fact that they cannot stop working in the afternoons just because it is summer.

Would it not have been

better for half-days to be removed rather than allow the current system? It would have saved the government a lot of money and at the same time made the public service more efficient.

When are the unions going to realise that, if they really want the country to move forward, public administration must change work practices that are outdated?

M. Camilleri

Sliema