Coronavirus: Association for Gozitan Employees Working in Malta calls for teleworking measures

The Association for Gozitan Employees Working in Malta (AGEM) has urged the relevant authorities to take the necessary action on certain matters which are affecting directly the Gozitan workers who commute daily to Malta.

The association asked for a meeting with the Minister for Gozo “to discuss these urgent matters but such request couldn’t be met and we were subsequently directed to the health authorities. However due to the nature and urgency of the situation AGEM cannot delay any longer without requesting the necessary actions to protect the daily Gozitan commuters.”

AGEM urged the relevant authorities to take into consideration and address with immediate effect a number of issues.

“A considerable amount of work which is carried out in offices can be done from home. Therefore, for those who can work from home we are requesting that telework on a permanent basis should be enforced for the coming weeks for as long as the virus persists. This measure is being recommended across all boards to include both the public and private sector employees.”

“The situation related to the current conditions on the ferries when commuting is one where for most of the trips there are a considerable number of people contained in a single area in close proximity to each other. Thus, we are requesting that if such situation persists, a limitation in travelling between the two islands would be necessary to prevent as much as possible the chance of transmission of the virus. If need be, in order to reduce the number of people from each trip and ensure the required social-distance we also recommend the possibility of operating two ferries simultaneously and alter the schedule to adopt a special shuttle service for as long as COVID19 persists in the country.”

The association argued that the hygiene on ferries is of utmost importance to ensure a safe and clean trip for all commuters. “Thus, we are recommending that after each trip our ferries are vigorously sanitized and disinfected to reduce as much as possible the risk of transmission of the virus to other passengers which embark afterwards.”

“It is understandable that those Gozitans who form part of the security forces and those who work in the medical field, including doctors and nurses, will need to commute due to the country’s exigencies in such times. Due to the nature of their position and in order to remain in a good state of health, it is critical to ensure they are not exposed, or they themselves expose other commuters to extra risks of getting the virus. Hence, AGEM requests the provision of special transport for all these professionals. This course of action would also ensure that they remain available to give their services for as long as COVID-19 persists.”

“There might be cases where Gozitan workers might be forced to stay isolated at home without working or to take care of their children. In such cases we are requesting the Government to intervene accordingly and provide the necessary financial support or otherwise for these persons without having to avail of their personal vacation or sick leave.”

AGEM said that most of the daily Gozitan commuters travel from the ferry to their workplaces and vice-versa by pooling in minivans or other vehicles. “This means of travelling also puts its users to an added risk of exposure to the virus which further justifies our argument for teleworking and other similar measures.”

“The priority for any measure requested above should be given to vulnerable persons, persons with a certain condition or with a disability and pregnant women.”

AGEM would also like to praise to all non-governmental organisations, community organisations and the church institutions for taking the necessary measures and cancelling all activities which might expose the people while urging the government to follow suite. “We believe that if we pull the rope in the same direction, we can find a compromise for all the Gozitan commuters and reduce for them the risk of getting the virus and even worse transmitting it to others. Whilst thanking everyone responsible for taking into consideration our requests, we look forward for further discussions with all relevant authorities.”