Industrial action is looming at the Foundation for Social and Welfare Services over social workers using their private cars for work purposes.

Speaking to The Malta Independent, Union Haddiema Maghqudin assistant secretary general Jesmond Bonello said the issue is about around 400 social workers using their private cars to get them from one place to another when they are on duty.

He said the foundation has a motor contingency policy but the union, on behalf of the employees, is requesting a motor policy rather than a contingency one.

As it stands today, he explained, if a social worker has an accident with his or her car, this employee simply follows usual procedures and files a claim with his or her insurance company. The foundation, through another insurance policy it has, refunds the employee for any expenses related to filing this claim, such as loss of no claim discounts and the excess, among others. The proposal put forward by the UHM is for the foundation to directly insure its employees so that, in the eventuality of an accident, these will be covered and will have more peace of mind. Mr Bonello said that according to the union’s calculations, this proposal will cost the foundation Lm7,000 a year.

Mr Bonello said the union has already informed the foundation of looming industrial action since discussions have been ongoing for more than a year now. He said the foundation had been informed of directives which could be issued tomorrow.