Recently, I read in newspapers that Malta tops the list of public holidays and vacation leave in the EU. I also understand that employers want us to deliver more.
However, the pension proposal drafted by Charles Micallef (a frequent contributor to the press on pensions) suggests “the more you work, the earlier you retire”. This is based more or less on the same principle governing the pre-retirement leave for Public Service employees. But whereas all the major unions had agreed on this, strangely enough they seem reluctant to adopt the fair-for-all pension proposal, which obviously gives better incentives for boosting productivity.
A word of advice to the authorities concerned: Please do NOT put every worker in the same category. In Malta there are some categories of glorified workers ranging from minor staff to professional employees, who enjoy four months holidays annually, work on average 30 hours a week, and take one or two breaks gratis a day, plus more! Others, unfortunately, have to relax in a mere 24 days of vacation leave a year (public holidays are enjoyed by both).
There has also been a debate lately on the recurrent summer issue of half days. Again, there are people who work more for these days well ahead in autumn, winter and spring, whereas others take half days of the already very shortened days to start preparing for their super summer holidays! Do ALL these internal anomalies exist in each EU country?
If stress is a major concern for these people, isn't it also a problem in other countries too because practically every modern demanding job is stressful after all. And if they have work to do at home... what does one expect if they finish so early from work!
Well, if someone thinks that these glorified types of people are delivering enough, think of these facts:
1) Malta still has a significant level of illiteracy (more than seven per cent);
2) Malta has the highest global level of obese children probably due to insufficient physical activities;
3) Malta can boast that from as early as Year Three, children start going to private lessons!
Jonathan Debono
TA’ XBIEX