From Mr R. Grech

I would like to make some observations regarding the letter, “The Gozitan mentality”, by Michael Grech, the PRO, of the Gozo Business Chamber (TMIS, 1 July).

• Is not the Bolshevik Revolution when the workers rose against the capitalists?

• Surely there are employees who abuse their employers. But why is it that Mr Grech is not equally convinced that there are employers who exploit their employees; why does he have to use the conditional?

• Why should waking up early to cross over to Malta for work every day – both with the public and private sectors – be considered “cushier” than working in Gozo with the private sector?

• Is it so extraordinary that one seeks a job for life when job opportunities are scarce?

• To build bridges it is essential to practise openness and trust. To build bridges, the employee needs to be convinced that his/her employer cannot offer better conditions of work.

• To build bridges one has to be convinced they are worth building and worth crossing. “Today’s economic world” has started seeing employees as capital assets and not as a cost: Such an attitude would surely make it much more worthwhile building bridges.

• Wouldn’t it be easier to build one bridge with an entire workforce, perhaps through a trade union, rather than digging secretive, underground tunnels with each employee, possibly playing divide and rule tactics?

Gozo needs entrepreneurs who can contribute to improve its economy. However, in order to expand their enterprises, entrepreneurs need employees.

My contribution is intended to spur the building of these bridges. The institution to which Mr Grech belongs is surely in a much better position to contribute towards greater understanding between employers and employees:

Let’s have the Gozo Business Chamber’s concrete commitment to this objective.

Reno Grech

VICTORIA