Your editorial entitled “Take it or leave it” effectively highlights the dangerous situation prevalent in work places today (TMIS, 15 January). Indeed, the times when a job was for life seem to have faded away, with employees, who are genuinely trying to have a long-term rewarding career, having to accept unconditional commitment, where freedom of expression and liberty of action is limited, if not suppressed.

True the reality of your heading that there is no other option than to “Take it or leave it”

This might be the way the world is going, but a miniscule nation such as ours cannot compare employment opportunities and job guarantees with those available in the US, the UK or Germany. The fact that we lag far behind where social concern, job satisfaction, work benefits and improved wages (that reflect the true nature of one's work) is unfortunate, as is the fact that nothing has been done to improve work standards, ethics, rights, salaries and so on.

With the blessings of previous and current government administrations, it is sad to note such complete and obvious disregard for the worker and human rights at workplaces. The mentality to sack at whim, to force employees to work longer hours for which they are not paid “or else”, to force and expect employees to perform work that is in no way related to their job, to constantly threaten people that their jobs are “on the line”, as well as the negative consequences resulting from favouritism and different packages for different people, is rampant on this tiny island. This can only be compared to taking control of people and to slavery! This situation has prevailed since time immemorial and nothing has been done to solve this unfair, unjust and immoral state of affairs.

Yes, the “who you know” factor is still going strong here. Some advertised jobs in the local media would have been “booked” or “allotted” well in advance. Acknowledged applications have become a rarity.

A lot of gimmicks are used to attract job seekers, only for the poor employee to find out later that these are only empty promises! The bureaucratic remedies available to people with complaints about the way they have been treated, are ineffective.

It is a shame to know about these things and not do anything about them, simply because they do not affect us. The situation that breeds lack of optimism, lack of incentive, lack of performance appraisal and lack of investment in human resources, also breeds lack of motivation, lack of interest, lack of participation, lack of pride, lack of self-esteem, as well as low turnover.

I know of local entities whose treatment of workers rate among the worst I have ever seen and compare with Third World countries. Indeed, there is little or no commitment today on one's place of work, one's job, one's employer.

We are a Catholic nation, with Christian ideology and beliefs, yet we fail to put our beliefs into practice, such as 'Love your neighbour as yourself'!

Martin Vella

KALKARA