The Union Haddiema Maghqudin said this morning that the opportunity workers had to ask questions about the restructuring of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services should only be considered as the beginning, as there should be more information and consultation on the changes.

In an open letter to Social Policy Minister Michael Farrugia, the union said that there should be an assurance that all employees in the sector do not lose any of the rights they are enjoying.

With this aim in mind, the UHM said it expected that an addendum should make it clear that in the eventuality that the FSWS is disbanded, the existing collective agreement will be honoured.

At the same time, the union insisted that talks on improvement of the working conditions should start.

The union said it had set up an ad hoc committee with  the Malta Association of Social Workers,  the Maltese Psychological Association (MPA),  the Maltese Association of Family Therapists (MAFT),   the Maltese Association of Youth Workers (MAY), the Maltese Association of Psychotherapists (MAP), the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession (MACP), the Medical Association of Malta and the Malta Union of Midwives and Nurses to monitor the situation.