The Malta Union of Teachers has once again expressed concern over the fact that the conditions of special leave have been changed for a number of teachers and other government employees who are presently working as translators with European institutions.

At a press conference last week, MUT president John Bencini said chaos reigned among some 100 public service officers currently working as translators on a temporary basis in Luxembourg and Brussels because, according to a circular they received on 23 October, the government will not be giving special unpaid leave for more than three years.

As a result, translators staying in Luxembourg or Brussels for more than this stipulated period will lose their post in Malta and will also lose all the benefits.

The MUT president said this issue was of particular concern to the union since the majority of translators employed with EU institutions are teachers.

In yesterday’s statement, the MUT said translators had to take big risks and some of them also needed to go to Luxembourg and Brussels together with their families. Now that they are starting to settle down properly, they are suddenly being asked to return to Malta, otherwise they will lose their job with the government, said the MUT.

The circular was received with shock and everybody is still in the dark regarding the reasons behind it, the MUT said.

When Malta joined the EU in 2004, it needed a number of translators to work in Luxembourg and Brussels. In fact, the government issued a circular to encourage public service officers, particularly teachers, to apply for such jobs. The authorities are not considering the implications of such a decision, said the MUT.

The union added that some translators are already preparing to return to Malta, against their wishes, and one of the main consequences is that this will leave a large gap in the Maltese translating sections of the various European institutions.