Żminijietna – Voice of the Left – is highly concerned with the new legislation which came into force in the European Union on 5 December, regarding the temporary agency workers directive. This new directive will push forward in the labour market, precarious jobs, and deregulation of employment rights, job insecurity and low wages.

In this regard we appeal to the respective authorities to enact this new EU legislation so that temporary workers enjoy the same rights and conditions of employment as regular workers from first day of employment. We are also concerned that this new directive will push forward atypical precarious employment. The principle of equal pay for equal jobs should be enforced by the state under this directive.

By supporting this kind of job flexibility, we believe that employers can now establish temporary work agreements and therefore decrease labour costs and weaken collective agreements.

Żminijietna questions the support given to this directive by local organisations, such as MEA and the Confederation of Women Organisations, and asks, how come that this new work model is being viewed as a measure that benefits women, when the only beneficiaries will be the ‘private agencies’. We believe that this new measure will promote precarious jobs which will result in more exploitation. Under this directive, a percentage of wages will go to third parties.

Żminijietna augurs that this new EU legislation will not obstruct measures that promote work-life balance, regular employment, flexible employment at worker’s discretion and more affordable childcare facilities.   

Temporary work agencies are nothing more than a tool in the hands of those who want to exploit more the workers.

■ David Pisani

Żminijietna