GWU secures sole union recognition at IAC Malta Ltd.

25 Jul 2026 - Economy | Home | Maritime and Aviation | News | Politics | Sections | The Union

The Maritime, Transport and Aviation Section of the General Workers’ Union (GWU) has officially secured sole union recognition for employees in the grades of Prepper, Primer, Painter and Team Leader employed by IAC Malta Ltd. The recognition follows the successful completion of a verification process conducted by the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) after the GWU submitted its request for sole recognition.

This achievement was made possible after employees in these grades recognised the benefits of joining Malta’s largest trade union and placed their trust in the GWU to represent their interests. The DIER verification confirmed that the GWU enjoys the necessary support to be granted sole recognition, with 100% of employees in these grades being members of the Union.

This recognition follows a particularly challenging period for these workers. While they were employed by Aviation Cosmetics, they faced several difficulties, including delays in the payment of their wages over a number of weeks. The GWU intervened immediately, engaging in discussions with both the company and the Minister for the Economy, Enterprise and Strategic Projects, Silvio Schembri, to find a solution that would safeguard the workers’ interests and ensure business continuity.

A few weeks later, employees were informed that IAC Malta Ltd, part of the IAC Group—one of the world’s leading companies specialising in aircraft painting and spraying services—would take over the company’s operations. This development provided reassurance to the workforce and paved the way for a more stable future while securing both the investment and the continuation of operations in Malta.

The Secretary of the GWU Maritime, Transport and Aviation Section, Jurgen Azzopardi, thanked the members for the confidence they had placed in the Union and said that the next step would be to continue discussions with the new management to strengthen and improve the working conditions of the employees concerned.

“We are proud that the employees have chosen the GWU as their sole representative union. This recognition is a clear vote of confidence in the work we do every day to protect workers’ rights. We now look forward to working closely with the new management to build on this positive development and secure better working conditions and a more stable future for these employees,” Azzopardi said.

The GWU remains committed to representing the interests of its members and to working constructively with employers to promote fair employment practices, industrial stability and improved conditions of work across all sectors.