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17 Jul 2026 - Home | Hospitality and Food | News | Politics | Sections

GWU registers industrial dispute with Securital over working conditions of employees providing services to the ERA

The Hospitality and Food Section of the General Workers’ Union (GWU) has registered an industrial dispute with the Department of Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER) against Securital over the working conditions of its members providing services to the Environment and Resources Authority (ERA).

The dispute follows a lack of action, poor communication and the absence of responses to correspondence exchanged between the parties, particularly regarding the health and safety of workers exposed to extreme heat, especially those working on Malta’s beaches. This comes at a time when official warnings have been issued about a heatwave and exceptionally high temperatures.

The GWU also expresses its disappointment with the ERA, which has so far failed to take responsibility or intervene effectively because these workers are employed by the contractor. The Union has also called for clear Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be established for situations involving extreme heat, yet it appears that such procedures have never been implemented.

The GWU cannot accept different working conditions or health and safety guidelines for workers performing the same duties simply because they are employed by different entities. The Union insists that every worker carrying out the same job should benefit from the same working conditions, the same level of protection and the same occupational health and safety measures, regardless of who their employer is.

The Union stresses that throughout the process it acted responsibly and reasonably, making every effort to solve through dialogue. However, the lack of response and action from those responsible has led to this situation, even though workers’ health and safety must always come first.

The GWU also warns that, unless concrete progress is made, it will issue directives within the next 48 hours, taking whatever action it considers necessary and effective to safeguard the interests, rights and safety of its members.