Malta’s Workers: Stuck in Limbo, Seeking Certainty

Imagine this: You’ve been working at the same job for years, but your contract keeps rolling over, month after month. No start date, no end date. You’re not an employee, but you’re not a freelancer either. You’re in a state of limbo, unsure of your future. This is the reality for thousands of Maltese workers, and it’s high time we address it.

Definite Contracts: A Foreign Concept?

In Malta, it’s not uncommon for workers to be stuck on ‘definite’ contracts that aren’t so definite after all. These contracts are meant to last for a specific period, but they often roll over, sometimes indefinitely. This lack of clarity leaves workers in a state of sustained uncertainty, affecting their personal lives, financial planning, and career prospects.

Take Maria, for instance, a 35-year-old marketing professional from Birkirkara. She’s been on a ‘definite’ contract for the past five years. “Every month, I wait for the dreaded email,” she says, “the one that says my contract won’t be renewed. It’s like living on a cliff edge, always wondering if this is the month I’ll fall off.”

Momentum’s Call for Change

Momentum, the progressive political party, has been vocal about this issue. They’re calling for a reform of definite contracts, arguing that they should truly be definite, with clear start and end dates. They want to see more permanent contracts, giving workers the security they deserve.

“Workers need certainty,” says Ivan Bartolo, MP for Momentum. “They need to know when their contract will end, so they can plan their lives. They need to know they have a future at their workplace. That’s what we’re fighting for.”

Employers: The Other Side of the Coin

Employers, on the other hand, argue that definite contracts give them flexibility. They can hire and fire as needed, without the commitment of a permanent contract. But Momentum argues that this flexibility comes at a cost – the mental health and well-being of Malta’s workers.

Dr. Marcelle Aquilina, a psychologist based in Msida, sees this uncertainty reflected in her practice. “I have clients who are constantly stressed, always waiting for the other shoe to drop,” she says. “It’s not healthy. People need stability, they need to know what’s coming next.”

What’s Next?

The debate around definite contracts is heating up. Momentum is pushing for reform, but they’re not the only ones. Trade unions and individual workers are also speaking out, demanding change. The government, meanwhile, is listening, but what action they’ll take.

One thing is clear, though. Malta’s workers deserve better. They deserve contracts that are truly definite, that give them the security and certainty they need. They deserve to know what’s coming next, to plan their lives, to live without the constant dread of uncertainty.

As Maria puts it, “I just want to know. Is this my job, or isn’t it? I deserve that much.”