The government and Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding affecting over 900 employees in the public sector who have a definite contract of work which now will be changed to an indefinite one.

The Permanent Secretary from the Office of the Prime Minister, Anthony Vella and UHM president Gejtu Tanti signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Employment Minister Louis Galea explained that even though a definite contract was converted to an indefinite one after four years of employment, the government decided that the absolute majority of these contracts would be converted even though the four years were not up.

However, he added, the agreement does not include public services employees on Scale 1 to 4, top management in public and government entities, people appointed in a board or commission and employees who are given a specific job in a specific time frame.

The minister said the agreement does include accountants working with the Tax Compliance Unit, technical attaches and judicial assistants.

The agreement also includes executive secretaries of local councils, said Dr Galea.

Principal Permanent Secretary Godwin Grima explained that by today week, all employees who will benefit from this agreement will receive a “personalised letter” – hard and soft copy – informing them of the changes.

Minister Galea said that the agreement was another important tool to ensure that the labour market had all the right conditions to help it grow while safeguarding employees and their working conditions.

“The market has to be flexible enough while protecting the employees – this is the concept of flexisecurity that the government is adopting,” he said.

Dr Galea added that the government believes that if a person is given a four-year contract time after time then the employer needs that person on an indefinite basis.

Mr Tanti expressed the UHM’s satisfaction that an agreement has finally been reached.

“This agreement will give the employees peace of mind about their job security and, as a result, invest more in their job,” he said.