Minister for Social Dialogue and Civil Liberties, Helena Dalli this morning launched a campaign to promote healthy workplace for all ages. The idea behind the campaign is to promote a sustainable working life.

The campaign is launched together with the rest of the EU countries. Minister Dalli said that the initiative incorporates also the active aging campaign which was launched by the Parliamentary Secretary for the Elderly.

The campaign addresses both the employers and employees. "The main aim of this initiative is to educate and create a change in the mentality. We want employers to value elderly workers and consider them as an asset because of their experience," Dr Dalli added.

She reminded journalists that the only resource in Malta is the human resource and that is why every worker is valuable.

The idea behind this project is also an attempt to address the issue of aging parents who find it challenging to keep up with their work.

Speaking at the launch, Dr Mark Gauci, the CEO of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority said that this campaign comes at a time when Malta is in full preparation for the Presidency of the European Council of the European Union, during which various activities will be organized in the field of occupational health and safety, including a tri-partite conference. He also said that the European Good Practice Awards ceremony will be held in Malta next year.

“These awards aim to demonstrate by example the importance of sustainable workplaces and healthy ageing and who tackle age discrimination. The two winning examples at a national level will then participate at a European level. In Malta, the OHSA is also inviting applications in two other categories – SME initiatives and management systems initiatives - which will compete at a national level. The closing date for the submissions is 30 September. It is important to stress such initiatives so that apart from national recognition, they serve as good practice examples for other entities,” Dr Gauci said.

Permanent Secretary Joseph Camilleri said that leaflets will be distributed to employers and schools while stressing that this project has to function by transmitting the message across all the board.