Social Policy Minister Michael Falzon urged social workers to not become influenced by partisan politics, tabling a letter which requested that a meeting to be held by the ministry and the Faculty for Social Work at the University of Malta be postponed.

In Parliament's closing speech, Falzon said that the ministry has full respect for social workers and their work, and that certain individuals, referring also to the PN, have been giving the impression that government is attacking social workers.

Allegations that the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) have been mistreating social workers, or laying them off, are also false, he said.

He defended himself by saying that it is not him who issues warrants to social workers, and that the ministry does its best to support social workers, including through guaranteed employment at the FSWS.

Falzon also said that social workers are remunerated well, and that a meeting which was to be held today between the Ministry through FSWS, and the social work faculty at the University, was requested to be postponed yesterday.

This meeting was to discuss ways to encourage new social workers, he said. Falzon alleged that the real reason was that someone had written a letter to all MPs on social work concerns, such as the lack of social workers in the sector. He also said that the numbers of social workers in these past years has increased.

Moreover, when Falzon tried to float the idea of certain qualifications for social work to be considered at MCAST, instead of taking up a course at the university, the faculty opposed it.

"Is that the way to encourage people to choose social work?" Falzon asked.

Falzon assured that individuals who graduate in social work have a guaranteed employment with the FSWS.