Iffirmat ftehim kollettiv ġdid għall-ħaddiema tal-Engineering Resources Limited
Se jibbenifikaw madwar 800 ħaddiem
Ġie ffirmat ftehim kollettiv ġdid għall-ħaddiema tal-Engineering Resources Limited, ERL, wara proċess ta’ negozjati li ilu għaddej għal dawn l-aħħar tnax-il xahar.
Dan il-ftehim, li jkopri l-perjodu bejn l-2025 u l-2030 se jwassal għal titjib sostanzjali fil-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol ta’ madwar 800 ħaddiem tal-ERL li jagħtu servizz lil Enemalta u lil International Energy Service Centre, IESC, sussidjarja tal-Enemalta.
Il-ftehim jinkludi titjib fil-paga bażika, titjib fir-rata tal-overtime, titjib fl-allowances, kif ukoll titjib fil-kundizzjonijiet ta’ leave speċjali relatat mal-familja. Dawn il-miżuri ġew maqbula sabiex il-kundizzjonijiet tal-ħaddiema jirriflettu aħjar il-ħtiġijiet tas-suq tax-xogħol tal-lum u r-realtajiet ġodda li fihom qed jaħdmu l-ħaddiema tal-ERL.
Bla dubju, dan huwa l-aqwa ftehim kollettiv li qatt ġie nnegozjat għall-ħaddiema tal-ERL.
Il-Ministru għall-Ambjent, l-Enerġija u l-Indafa Pubblika Miriam Dalli qalet li dan il-ftehim huwa konferma ċara tal-impenn tal-Gvern favur kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol aħjar, pagi aktar ġusti u rikonoxximent xieraq tal-ħiliet tal-ħaddiema. “Dan il-ftehim kollettiv huwa pass importanti ħafna għall-ħaddiema tal-ERL u għall-familji tagħhom. Wara sena ta’ negozjati serji u kostruttivi, illum qed nagħtu riżultat konkret li jirrikonoxxi l-kontribut, l-esperjenza u d-dedikazzjoni ta’ dawn il-ħaddiema. Il-ħaddiema tal-ERL kienu u jibqgħu parti essenzjali mill-operat ta’ Enemalta u mis-servizzi relatati mal-enerġija f’pajjiżna, iżda rridu nirrikonoxxu wkoll li ħafna minnhom matul is-snin adattaw ruħhom għal realtajiet ġodda, għal postijiet tax-xogħol differenti u għal snajja’ ġodda. Dan jitlob flessibbiltà, impenn u taħriġ kontinwu, u għalhekk kien xieraq li l-kundizzjonijiet tagħhom jitjiebu b’mod sinifikanti. B’hekk ukoll, flimkien qed inkomplunsaħħu r-reżiljenza tal-pajjiż,” qalet il-Ministru Dalli.
Il-Ministru żiedet li l-ftehim juri wkoll kif it-tkabbir ekonomiku għandu jissarraf f’benefiċċji diretti għall-ħaddiema. “Il-paga bażika mtejba, ir-rati aħjar tal-overtime, l-allowances imsaħħa u l-kundizzjonijiet aħjar ta’ leave relatat mal-familja huma kollha miżuri li juru li l-ħaddiem qiegħed fiċ-ċentru tal-politika tagħna. Irridu suq tax-xogħol li jkun kompetittiv, iżda wkoll ġust; suq tax-xogħol li jattira u jżomm il-ħiliet, iżda li fl-istess ħin jagħti dinjità u stabbiltà lill-ħaddiema. Dan il-ftehim jirrifletti proprju dak il-bilanċ. Huwa investiment fin-nies, fil-ħiliet tagħhom u fil-kwalità tas-servizz li jingħata lill-pajjiż,” żiedet il-Ministru Dalli.
Josef Bugeja, is-Segretarju Ġenerali tal-GWU, qal li, “Dawn in-negozjati ħadu fit-tul għax apparti li biddilna l-kundizzjonijiet tax-xogħol, żidna l-pagi, u żidna l-allowances, introduċejna allowances ġodda għal dawn il-ħaddiema għax id-dinja tax-xogħol tagħhom tinbidel kontinwament. Kien hemm kwistjonijiet oħra ta’ pagi u pensjonijiet li ġew irranġati. Hawnhekk tara s-suċċess tad-djalogu soċjali bejn min iħaddem u l-ħaddiema, u l-irwol tal-GWU fejn tilħaq dak il-bilanċ bejn l-aspirazzjonijiet tal-ħaddiema u l-ħtieġa tax-xogħol.”
Dan il-ftehim kollettiv għalhekk mhux biss isaħħaħ il-kundizzjonijiet finanzjarji u soċjali tal-ħaddiema, iżda jagħraf ukoll il-valur tal-ħidma tagħhom u l-kontributkontinwu tagħhom lejn servizzi essenzjali għall-pajjiż.
New collective agreement signed for Engineering Resources Limited workers
Around 800 workers to benefit
A new collective agreement has been signed for workers at Engineering Resources Limited, ERL, following a negotiation process that has been ongoing for the past twelvemonths.
The agreement, which covers the period between 2025 and 2030, will lead to substantial improvements in the working conditions of around 800 ERL workers who provide services to Enemalta and to the International Energy Service Centre, IESC, a subsidiary of Enemalta.
The agreement includes improvements in basic pay, improved overtime rates, improved allowances, as well as better conditions for special family-related leave. These measureswere agreed so that workers’ conditions better reflect the needs of today’s labour market and the new realities in which ERL workers are operating.
Without doubt, this is the best collective agreement ever negotiated for ERL workers.
Minister for the Environment and Energy Miriam Dalli said that this agreement is clear confirmation of the Government’s commitment to better working conditions, fairerwages, and proper recognition of workers’ skills. “This collective agreement is a very important step for ERL workers and their families. After a year of serious and constructive negotiations, today we are delivering a concrete result that recognises the contribution, experience, and dedication of these workers. ERL workers have been and remain an essential part of Enemalta’s operations and of energy-related services in our country, but we must also recognise that many of them have, over the years, adapted to new realities, different workplaces, and new trades. This requires flexibility, commitment, and continuous training, and it was therefore appropriate for their conditions to improve significantly. In this way too, together we are continuing to strengthen the country’s resilience,” Minister Dalli said.
The Minister added that the agreement also shows how economic growth should translate into direct benefits for workers. “The improved basic pay, better overtime rates, strengthened allowances, and better family-related leave conditions are all measures showing that the worker is at the centre of our policy. We want a labour market that is competitive, but also fair; a labour market that attracts and retains skills, while at the same time giving workers dignity and stability. This agreement reflects precisely that balance. It is an investment in people, in their skills, and in the quality of service provided to the country,” Minister Dalli added.
Josef Bugeja, General Secretary of the GWU said, “These negotiations took a long time because, apart from changing the working conditions, we increased the wages, increasedthe allowances, and introduced new allowances for these workers, since their world of work is constantly changing. Other issues relating to wages and pensions were also resolved. This is where you can see the success of social dialogue between employers and workers, and the role of the GWU in achieving that balance between workers’ aspirations and the needs of the job.”
This collective agreement therefore not only strengthens workers’ financial and social conditions but also recognises the value of their work and their continued contributionto essential services for the country.these, including the embellishment of the picnic area and dog park in the locality.”