The Nationalist Party has criticised the government over the treatment of former Air Malta part-time workers, after a Court of Appeal ruling found that the workers had been unfairly dismissed.

In a statement, the PN said the case exposed a contradiction between the government's claims on workers' rights and the treatment of employees at Air Malta, which was state-owned at the time.

The party said a number of part-time workers had been left on zero hours in 2022, meaning they were allocated no shifts, rather than being formally informed that their employment was being terminated. According to the PN, the workers subsequently had their access to Air Malta systems withdrawn and were asked to return their airport passes.

Air Malta had maintained that the workers had not been dismissed because their contracts allowed the company to assign them zero hours. The PN said the Court of Appeal rejected that argument and confirmed that the workers had been unfairly dismissed.

The case dates back to November 2022, shortly after the government announced measures concerning the transposition of an EU directive on transparent and predictable working conditions, including restrictions on zero-hour contracts subject to certain exceptions.

The PN highlighted a government statement issued on 17 April in which Labour said it had abolished zero-hour contracts and that "dignity in the workplace is non-negotiable".

The party questioned how the treatment of the Air Malta workers was consistent with that commitment, arguing that the government should explain how their employment was handled under a state-owned company.

The PN acknowledged that legislation provides for certain exceptions to restrictions on zero-hour arrangements, but said this did not change the Court's finding that the workers had been unfairly dismissed.

It called on the government to assume political responsibility, explain who had decided on and approved the treatment of the workers, and ensure that those affected received what was due to them.

The party also called for measures to prevent workers at other state entities from experiencing similar circumstances.

The statement was signed by PN Shadow Ministers Adrian Delia, Ivan Castillo and Julian Borg, and party spokespersons Annabelle Cilia and John Baptist Camilleri.