Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1210197
4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 12 FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS MATTHEW VELLA WORKERS in two-thirds of EU member states, Malta included, are receiving a smaller share of their country's GDP than they were at the beginning of the dec- ade, official figures show. European Commission statistics show wage share – a key indicator of inequality – has fallen in 18 member states between 2010 and 2019, the European Trade Union Confederation said. Ireland saw the biggest fall in the percentage of GDP paid out in wages at 19%*, ahead of Croatia (11), Cyprus (6), Portugal (5) and Malta (5). The ETUC said the figures show that working people are receiving a smaller share of the economic prosperity they help create, and presented them during the Euro- pean Commission's consultation on fair minimum wages. In 2017, the Central Bank's an- nual review suggested that in 2015, the construction and re- al estate industry's €138 million wage bill rose by €5.1 million. But the rapid growth in revenues for construction was reflected in the availability of a growing pool of foreign workers who are being employed at lower wages – the fourth consecutive year in which average salaries fell. "[It] has put downward pressure on the average wage in the con- struction sector, with compensa- tion per employee in this sector declining for the fourth consecu- tive year. The construction sector, moreover, benefited from lower energy costs following the cut in electricity tariffs for businesses during the year. The resulting sav- ings boosted profitability relative to wages," the Central Bank said. Foreign workers account for 18% of the workforce in the real estate sector, and for 13% of that in the construction sector, as against 10% in the overall economy. So while in 2015, the average em- ployee pocketed a total of €22,421 in gross earnings, a construction worker was taking €15,476 in construction while the real estate worker was taking €18,064. ETUC Deputy General Secretary Esther Lynch said the data shows that people in most member states are receiving a smaller share of the national wealth. "Ursula von der Leyen has pledged that the new European Commission will create an 'economy that works for peo- ple', which is a laudable goal that we fully support. But the Commis- sion's figures show that people in most member states are receiving a smaller share of the wealth they work hard to generate than they were at the start of the decade. "So von der Leyen will need to bring forward game changing proposals which drive up wages across Europe to deliver on her pledge. Raising statutory min- imum wages in the countries where they exist would be a start, but workers also need the right to join a trade union and bargain col- lectively in order to get a genuine- ly fair share." Maltese workers have a smaller share of economic prosperity today than in 2009 Malta's economic growth over the last five years has prompted a surge in demand for foreign labour in various sectors, even allowing employers to keep wages down CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Sources close to the investigation said some officers would not turn up but still get paid in a scheme that also involved high-ranking officers. The investigation also revealed that most motorbikes used by the police had their tracking devices removed or dis- abled, making it hard to pinpoint their location. A police statement yesterday evening confirmed that 30 police officers had been arrested and that a magisterial in- quiry has been opened. Sources said the investigation, which was entrusted to the Economic Crimes Unit, used sophisticated methods to trace the location of police officers, matching this with their extra duty de- tail. The investigation has taken hours of work to piece together a comprehensive picture of abuse. However, it appears that this was not the only abuse perpetrated by officers in the traffic branch and the investigation is expected to cast a wider net. In some instances, officers were receiv- ing payments for extra duty on private jobs by skiving from work. Soon after becoming Prime Minister last month, Robert Abela requested that two police officers forming part of his security detail be transferred back to the police force. The two officers came from the traffic branch and were removed from Abela's security detail the moment the Prime Minister was made aware of the internal investigation. Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri yesterday said that police investigations were still underway and any decisions on whether suspended traffic cops will be sacked will be taken after those involved are charged in court. The situation has left the police force with a veritable problem of manpower in the traffic branch, given the number of people being investigated. However, Camilleri said a contingen- cy plan has been set in place for the ab- sence of these officers. "We will ensure continued enforcement of the law in our streets," he said, adding officers from other police branches will be drafted in to provide the necessary support. The police force has appealed for in- formation from the public over abusive practices by traffic policemen, asking for any information to be submitted confi- dentially at its internal investigations unit, on 22942201 or email internalaf- fairs.police@gov.mt. Tracking devices on most motorbikes disabled or removed, investigation finds Byron Camilleri