Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Capital Projects Ian Borg welcomed at his ministry both Transport Malta and UĦM Voice of the Workers, along with union representatives who work with this same entity, in order for three collective agreements to be signed between the two parties.

Minister Borg expressed his satisfaction with these agreements, which will be improving conditions for 565 workers of different roles and grades within Transport Malta. He explained how they will benefit from several improvements, including salary increases, more opportunities for career progression, and social benefits aimed towards both the physical and mental wellbeing of employees.

Salary increase will reach an average of 2.5% for all employees affected by these agreements, which are valid for five years, that is from 2016 until 2020. Agreement conditions include increased flexibility, especially concerning the enforcement section, due to the exigencies of the work involved, while support services conditions will also become more flexible. Salary packages are aimed at rewarding those employees who have been working hard with this entity for a long time, while also aiming to attract to it new employees to take on the much needed roles, continuing to improve efficiency. A junior managerial grade will also be introduced in order to facilitate the leap from one grade to another towards the progress of every employee.

Minister Borg also said that this was the first time a collective agreement specifically designed for Transport Malta architects was being signed, which will affect 25 architects from three different sectors within the entity, and is to lead to more incentives for them to work hard towards the successful completion of more projects. This will be done through a financial reward system in the form of an allowance according to objectives reached for each project. At the same time, the architects agreement is thought to attract towards this entity both architects with a number of years of experience, as well recently graduated architects, who can therefore acquire their warrant while working with Transport Malta.

Minister Borg emphasised that the signing of these agreements is a clear sign of the Government’s commitment to strengthen work conditions for workers, who are the backbone of every entity. While he commended the employees present for their initiative, he also commended both the UĦM and Transport Malta for arriving to this resolution for the benefit of all those concerned. He thanked Transport Malta Chairman James Piscopo, as well as his team, for working tirelessly towards the settlement of these agreements. Mr Piscopo was one of the signatories of these three documents, together with UĦM Director Jesmond Bonello, and a number of other representatives and workers.

UĦM CEO Josef Vella also had words of praise for these workers who do this work voluntarily. He went on to express his hope that these agreements lead to several positive results.