Psychologists urge authorities to listen to pleas for better working conditions

The Malta Chamber of Psychologists (MCP) has expressed its growing concern for, and solidarity with, psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers and family therapists working in the public sector, who have recently been forced to take industrial action.

The MCP said that these helping professionals encourage the authorities to listen to their pleas for better conditions in lieu of a long-expired collective agreement, which seriously undermines their expertise, training and endless dedication, but such pleas seem to have fallen on deaf ears 12 days in.

The Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) employs counselling and clinical psychologists, psychotherapists, social workers and family therapists, among other caring and helping professionals within its service.

“These professionals work together for the well-being of clients who make use of services such as individual psychotherapy, family therapy and other forms of ongoing support. They also reach out to the community through different interventions such as school visits, community interventions, interventions in hospitals and prison, and also in providing staff support, supervision and training,” the chamber said.

“The silent voices of these professionals have been ignored for far too long, and it is time the authorities stepped up to demonstrate that these workers are valued, recognised and acknowledged for being at the heart of our community.”

MCP reiterated that it offers complete solidarity and support to all those concerned.