Flood of foreign workers risks our Maltese culture and identity, Adrian Delia warns
Leader of the Nationalist Party Adrian Delia yesterday expressed his concern for the Maltese culture and identity due to the influx of foreign workers, pledging to secure a long-term plan for the future of the country.
Delia declared this during a business breakfast celebrating Workers’ Day, which was organised by the Nationalist Party with the theme ‘The Maltese Worker - A Long-Term Plan’. The conference focused on the Maltese economy, which continues to see more foreign workers coming to Malta.
Following presentations by a number of prominent speakers, Adrian Delia stressed that “Maltese identity is what makes us Maltese.”
“We are a Mediterranean society; we are a spontaneous people; we have heritage, a culture and an identity,” and it is necessary, he said, “to plan for the long term based on what has made us Maltese over the years.”
Long-term plans need not only be economical or financial, but should also take into consideration to what extent Malta was willing to change as a nation, said Delia, pointing out the change in demographics related to the number of children born to foreign women.
Putting a number of questions to the audience, Delia asked: “While the economy is growing because of the input of foreign workers, is the Maltese worker taking home more or less in the end?”
“At the centre of the work of the Nationalist Party there is the worker, the person, especially those with lower wages who need to work double to make ends meet. Are we earning more or are we becoming slaves?” he said.
He also asked whether longer hours and working more had come to the detriment of being a social person; if the race for consumption was affecting quality of life; if people were really happy.
Delia expressed concern regarding issues such as those highlighted by anti-poverty groups - family structure, religion, language and Maltese identity. He said this was the price of not planning for the long term and not responding to the needs of the present. He also mentioned his concern at the disproportionate rise in rents with the increase in wages. “It is true the economy is growing but the growth is not being felt by our families, who are suffering,” Delia stressed.
Delia closed off by voicing his main preoccupation, saying: “Let us be careful and let us think and plan long term so that we do not end up attracting foreign workers but as a consequence lose our children as they choose to leave because it becomes a Malta they no longer recognise.”
Deterioration of the Maltese Language - Prof. Baldacchino
Also speaking at the conference, Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino discussed the effect on the economy and noted that the scope of the discussion was to understand the changes affecting the country. He mentioned the increase in traffic, the increase in birth rates, increase in smoking and increase in rental prices. Baldacchino also noted problems that could result in the deterioration of the Maltese language due to the increase of foreigners living in Malta. He also argued that perhaps increasing foreign workers was not the solution to the lack of labour supply.
Wages not increasing proportionately to economy - Gejtu Vella
On the other hand, former UĦM secretary general Gejtu Vella highlighted the work-life balance which is being compromised due to more people working both full-time and part-time. It appeared, he said, that wages were not increasing in relation to the economy and, as a result, more people needed to work longer hours. He asked political parties to take responsibility and show solidarity with regard to the distribution of wealth.
Integration of foreign workers - Joe Farrugia
Another speaker, Joseph Farrugia, from the Malta Employers Association, focused on the integration of foreign workers in Malta. He also highlighted a number of issues relating to the influx of foreign workers, including cultural issues, social mobility, education, criminality, birth rates, medical care and even effects on the environment. Strategies and policies needed to be put in place to prepare for these sociological changes, he said.
Skill shortages and skill gap - Dr Thake
Dr Anne Marie Thake spoke about the skills shortages and skill gap, highlighting employability, labour mobility, and the skills required in the changing labour market.
Increase in population causing infrastructure and transport problems - Dr Von Brockdorff
University professor Philip Von Brockdorff added that the increase in population was having a number of negative effects on the country, creating problems with traffic, infrastructure and transport. He also expressed his concern about the effects the digital era could have on the economy and the workers, stating that so far no debate on the subject had been made.
“Are we earning more or are we becoming slaves?”