The European Union offers a great many possibilities to young adults, students in particular, and students at both the University of Malta and at MCAST, Malta’s technical university, qualify. One EU initiative worth mentioning is Youth on the Move. This is part of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the aim of which is education and employment for young people in Europe. Its scope is to improve education and the chances of employability, thus increasing the youth employment rate. The goals of this initiative are three-fold: rendering education and training more appropriate to the requirements of young people, encouraging them to take advantage of EU grants to further their studies and train in another country, and encouraging EU member states to facilitate the transition from education to employment.

Students used and abused

Most students are keen to learn and hence they search for experience: this is a genuine thirst of the part of those eager to supplement their knowledge with hands-on experience. However, their desire and legitimate enthusiasm often render them prey to employers who ruthlessly engage them for their business(es) with no pay or with a “salary” which, in Malta, amounts to around €200 a month or less for a 40-hour week. I have to admit that such employers, some of whom run professional practices, are in the minority but the number is still significant. They would argue that they are offering an internship, or work experience, and thus their resources balance out the salary/payment due to the students; but the students are essentially unpaid apprentices paying to work, as the employers make them use their laptops and own transport if the need arises. This is exploitation of young students, tomorrow’s leaders, at best. It is psychological abuse. It is a violation of our students to exploit them for economic gain, and have them work for no payment – or for peanuts. Students are being stripped of their dignity because they choose to supplement their studies, a legitimate ambition of any motivated person.

Indeed, students are in a catch-22 situation: they need work experience to supplement their studies in place of employment and the employer(s) usually request experience as a condition of employment. It is true that such a rationale is being used in other EU member states, so these young EU nationals, Maltese included, are being exploited in a most inhumane manner. In Malta, slavery was abolished with the advent of the French in 1798. We are free – and that includes our young men and women. They have the right to be educated and we have a duty to help them grow into young – academically, professionally and/or technically competent – members of society. They have to be helped to develop their self-confidence and feeling of self-worth.

But how can such attributes be acquired if they are made to work for nothing or for €50 a week, which is €10 per day, or €1.25 – 50 cents in the former Maltese lira – an hour. This implies that a quarter of their daily salary is used to cover the purchase of a bus ticket to go to work and a small bottle of soft drink while they are there. This is the absurdity of the rates at which our young motivated people are being paid. The system is demotivating them, it is repressing them, it is metaphorically breaking their backs.

The student and the EU

The widespread practice of using and abusing students through exploitation by the labour market should be halted. It runs against the spirit of the Europe 2020 Strategy oriented towards smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is determined to curb precarious work. This is an election promise that voted him and the Labour administration into government, an election promise in which he staunchly believes for the dignity of all. The election manifesto, the government’s programme, clearly states that it will fight precarious work. The government is determined not to tolerate this type of abuse and will make sure that employers who use such practices will not only be prosecuted at law but will be disqualified from tendering for government projects. Such an attitude is strategically placed to stop this malpractice and can be equally applied to the exploitation of students.

Education and the employability of young adults are two aspects close to the heart of the Prime Minister and, indeed, to any citizen who believes in the common good. Our students are a significant part of the human capital of our nation. They are intangible assets of our country and they have to be allowed to develop without being humiliated for aiming for such a natural goal. This dimension is more critical when the employers are professional practices: this is definitely not a fitting way to introduce a graduate to good professional ethic.

Percentages and numbers are odious; each student is unique and his or her uniqueness is the distinctive beauty of our society, a member of the EU. At European parliament level, our PL MEPs will fight against this abuse which reduces the quality of life of our students. They are not beggars; they are our children; they are achievers. As guardians, we have to protect them and support them to face life with dignity and humanity. Malta can lead by example, especially with our social conscience and the hospitality that is a characteristic of our nation.

An MEP must believe in student workers and fight for their rights. This is a fundamental human right in which I strongly believe and have supported. Malta should launch a campaign in the EP to eliminate the exploitation of students by the labour market. Our role should not just be to endorse such a campaign. I do not just believe that Malta can be a principle freedom fighter in such a struggle but that it can be the leader.

Prof. Perit Lino Bianco

PL candidate for the EP election in May