The government will not extend the ban on social media to all civil servants, after it was decided that senior management at the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) should not be active online. However, a comprehensive policy being drawn up will take into consideration advanced technological communication.
Last week, The Malta Independent reported that Minister Evarist Bartolo introduced the ban, following lewd comments by the corporation’s CEO Philip Rizzo.
The uproar started when Head of the EU Funded Schemes Division at the ETC, Olivia Farrugia, had posted a photo of herself on Facebook wearing a one-piece swimsuit. Mr Rizzo chose to comment on her post, writing “This is the only ETC Head of Division with the three Bs… Brains, Boobs and Balls!!!!... She’s a very capable lady.”
Minister Bartolo admitted that the comments are unacceptable, but said that no further action against him will be taken.
Meanwhile, Head of Civil Service Mario Cutajar told this newspaper that the ban will not be extended to all civil servants, given these are already guided by Directive 5 issued by the PPS.
The directive states that public officers need to ensure that they act with propriety at all times. It states that public officers in scales 6 and lower are allowed to engage in public comment in a personal capacity. Moreover they are allowed to do so only as long as they ensure that their comments are being put forward solely as a matter of personal opinion and not the government’s opinion.
Advising government entities to regulate themselves to this directive, Mr Cutajar said that the current or the Code of Ethics for public officers is taking into consideration these modern tools of communication. The annual conference for heads in the Public Service also discussed the issue last January and a comprehensive policy is being drawn up and will be communicated later on this year.
Philip Rizzo should have been placed under disciplinary action – PN
Shadow Minister for Education and Employment Therese Comodini Cachia said that Mr Rizzo’s language or attitude is unacceptable. “For someone in his position not to be placed under disciplinary action is improper especially when anti-harassment laws were introduced in Malta years ago,” she said.
“We have a government who promised to be the most gender sensitive. But ended up with a Minister for employment who himself used this language in an address of his and now thinks it is better to hide such attitude rather than discipline it,” Dr Comodini Cachia added.
The Shadow Minister said that while it is not up to a minister to stop persons from being on the social media, it is certainly within his powers to ensure that ethics, ethos and principles of work and behaviour at the workplace and with fellow colleagues are followed.
Law association does not agree with ban
Meanwhile, The Malta Information Technology Law Association (MITLA) said that that a more correct approach would be to introduce Social Media ethics and policies for the Civil Service as opposed to ban certain public servants from using such communication channels.
In a statement, MITLA said that the government would do better to train civil servants in social media ethics and policies. This practice was recently introduced in the United Kingdom.
“Social Media is part of modern life and any Government should not lose the opportunity to use this tool to assist it in open policy making, better customer service and vibrant interaction with citizens. An indiscriminate ban sends the wrong message. A normative code which advocates propriety and ethics is a far better option,” the association said.