In a significant move toward greater worker protection, the General Workers’ Union (GWU) has expressed its satisfaction with the growing support for its proposal advocating for automatic membership in a union of one’s choice, a policy aimed primarily at safeguarding low-income workers in Malta.
The initiative has garnered backing not only from all major trade unions but also from
prominent non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Graffitti and the tenants’ union, Solidarity. These organizations recognize the plight of many workers in Malta, particularly those in lower-paying jobs, who remain without union representation.
Josef Bugeja, General Secretary of the GWU, highlighted the importance of union
membership for vulnerable workers, stating, “Membership in a union provides a guarantee of protection, especially for workers in low-income jobs who are often either afraid or discouraged from joining a trade union.”
Bugeja further explained that Maltese law already provides mechanisms to regulate union membership through the Department of Industrial and Labor Relations. This department works to bring together registered unions to promote collective bargaining and ensure that worker rights are upheld. In addition, the Maltese Council for Economic and Social Development (MCESD) plays an essential role in promoting inclusivity, social mobility, and economic growth by allowing unions to participate in policy discussions.
While discussions continue whether automatic union membership should apply universally or only to certain sectors, Bugeja pointed out that many employers still discourage their employees from joining unions, in direct violation of constitutional rights. He noted that a survey conducted by the Foundation for the Welfare of Society in 2015 revealed that 2.5% of both male and female workers faced hostile reactions or were discouraged by employers when attempting to join a union.
As the debate progresses, the GWU and supporting organizations aim to ensure that low-income workers are better represented and protected, advocating for a fair and inclusive labour system across Malta.
The General Workers’ Union (GWU) has intensified its criticism of employers who claim to respect workers’ rights to join a union while reportedly discouraging or outright blocking employees from exercising this right. In a sharp statement, GWU General Secretary Josef Bugeja questioned the sincerity of employers’ claims that all workers are free to join a union, given the troubling reports his union has received.
“Employers are claiming that all workers are free to join a union,” Bugeja said, “but do they really believe this when these workers are not being allowed or are being discouraged from acceding to this right? Just last week, we received a complaint from one of our members who was told by his employer that he would receive a promotion—on the condition that he resign from the trade union.”
Bugeja revealed that the worker’s new contract included a clause stating that union
membership would constitute a conflict of interest for his role, a condition the GWU sees as an underhanded tactic to weaken union presence in the workplace. “Employers’ associations know about these cases, and they never propose any concrete solutions. They only say the employee should report the matter to the employer, a ridiculous solution considering these employees are worried or afraid their jobs will be at risk.”
While workers have the right to challenge such practices in the courts, Bugeja stressed that many lack the resources or agency to do so. “A fair society must discourage unfair
employment practices from the very beginning. Unions are the necessary countermeasure,” he added.
The GWU believes that trade union membership is the most effective way to deter
employers from exploiting workers. The union has encountered numerous cases where employees felt powerless to contest arbitrary or unjust decisions. Bugeja emphasized that unions play a fundamental role in creating a just society. “Unions are a basic institution of a just society; in the same way that employers look to businesses as the primary institution of the free market. Just as every community needs a government, workers need a union that gives the vulnerable the guarantee of justice when dealing with employers.”
Bugeja also expressed concerns about platform workers, who, along with third-country
nationals, are often subjected to what he described as “all kinds of arbitrary treatment.”
Without mandatory union membership, these vulnerable groups are left with little protection, he argued. “Automatic membership is a necessary countermeasure to a system that allows employers to obtain maximum profit from human resources to the workers’ detriment.”
The GWU’s call for automatic union membership continues to gather momentum, with
support from NGOs and other unions. As the conversation unfolds, the union remains
steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that no worker is left without representation or recourse in the face of unjust treatment.
