Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1309486
5 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 NOVEMBER 2020 NEWS Call for Tenders Laptop devices for employees in church schools The Secretariat for Catholic Education (SfCE) in Malta would like to announce the launch of the following tender: SfCE 002/2020: Tender for the supply of Laptop Devices for Employees in Church Schools [Deadline: 14 th December 2020 at 09:30] Tender documents may be obtained from the Archdiocese of Malta website: https://church.mt/jobs/ Interested bidders are to submit their SEALED TENDERS by the deadline indicated above. Tenders are to be addressed to the Secretariat for Catholic Education 16, The Mall, Floriana FRN 1472 Further information may be requested by email on tenders.schools@maltadiocese.org This project may be part financed by the EUROPEAN UNION slaves? edges that while there are some shortcomings to the platform model, there are advantages for all to enjoy. "The platform model provides flexibility and optimises re- sources. The individual is free to choose when and where to work, this flexibility gives access to the job market to those that are not able to work a standard 9 to 5 job due to other conflicting respon- sibilities. This model also creates market place efficiency, meaning savings on administration and management which are reflect- ed in better earnings for service providers and lower costs to cus- tomers." But Josef Bugeja from the Gen- eral Workers' Union worries that so-called "application work- ers" will become the new labour slaves. "This is a new world of gig work, where an application serves as a contract of service. The problem is that these work- ers don't have employment con- ditions whatsoever. There is no contract binding them, only an application," Bugeja said. "You can hardly call them self-employed – at least when you're self-employed you can have certain benefits or sick leave through a contract of ser- vice," he added. A lack of a formal contract ap- pears harmless at first, but things get complicated when you delve into the details. With the pandemic, food de- livery workers put themselves at higher risk with every delivery, but they don't qualify for paid sick leave in case they fall ill, and instead suffer a major income loss or force themselves to go to work at the expense of others. Malta's roads are also unforgiv- ing, and any expenses incurred due to traffic accidents are the courier's to sort out. The allure of the gig economy can deliver tasty food conven- iently at home but it also relies on shifting risk onto workers. Workers are promised attrac- tive pay and flexible hours but carry the risks alone. It is a mod- el that may work for some but one that sees companies wash their hands of the risks and in the same breath reap the highest returns. A Wolt spokesperson refuted the term "slave work". "Definitely it is not… this is a very harsh term and should not be used light-heartedly," the spokesperson said. "Platform economy is a new way of working that has been introduced relatively recent- ly in most countries. Like most novelties, there are some people that criticise it and many others that support it. A key advantage of the platform economy is the freedom and flexibility that al- lows individuals to work when- ever they want for however long they want. "For example, it provides ad- ditional income to people that have another main job or they're studying etc. Since the platform economy is so new and differ- ent, there are probably improve- ments that can be made in order to make the model even better and our company is always com- mitted into engaging with all rel- evant stakeholders for improv- ing the model. "It is worth noting here, that the biggest majority of Wolt de- liveries in Malta, take place via couriers who are employed by third parties. As mentioned pre- viously we are doing our best to design our pricing and payment models in a fair way towards all groups of 'the triangle' – our customers, the restaurants and the courier partners." nmeilak@mediatoday.com.mt CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 "He is emboldened by posi- tive polls that could give the PN a new lease of life and bring it back in line to that stage when the PN had just emerged from the 2013 elec- tion, to start building it back up," a Grech aide told Malta- Today. But Grech appears to be hampered by Prime Minister Robert Abela's own foot-drag- ging when it comes to his next Cabinet reshuffle, which is ex- pected to see Miriam Dalli in a new ministerial role and Clyde Caruana as finance minister. Grech has told aides he might jump the gun by appointing a new shadow cabinet without waiting for Robert Abela's line-up. "He has also been urged to show decisiveness and react quickly to cases of impropiety or divergence from party pol- icy, as has been the case with Jason Azzopardi and Edwin Vassallo," the source said. In spite of his inroads in voter retention, Grech faces a challenging prospect with an estimated 35,000-plus vot- er difference with Labour. Young volunteers who have approached the party since he was elected leader, and oth- er outsiders including some well-known professionals who have offered to stand with the PN, could signal a turning point for the new leadership. Grech already made his mark this week by saying he wants his MPs to come clean about any gifts or freebies they may have received from the busi- ness community. Grech said he had asked his parliamenta- ry group to inform him wheth- er they had received any gifts or favours that could pose a potential conflict or debt. The action comes after fire- brand MP Jason Azzopardi suspended himself from the PN parliamentary group after it was revealed he had accept- ed free hotel accommoda- tion from the Tumas Group, owned by the family of al- leged Daphne Caruana Galizia murder conspirator Yorgen Fenech. "It is clear that we are not a party of impunity, we are not a party of double standards, we are a party of action," he said. Grech said it would be naive to assume that no politicians had accepted free meals after sitting down around a table for a meeting. But he want- ed his MPs to be free of any influence that could be used against them. Grech also disassociated himself and the PN from com- ments made by conservative MP Edwin Vassallo, in which he equated a LGBTQI equality strategy issued by the Europe- an Commission as a form of "Marxism". "Putting people at the centre of our politics means respect- ing and actively defending the dignity and fundamental human rights of every indi- vidual. With no exception .I completely disassociate both myself and PN from com- ments made to the contrary," he said on Twitter. Vassallo launched one of his customary tirades earlier this week, after the European Commission issued an equal- ity strategy that makes EU funds conditional on the re- spect of gay rights. Vassallo, only last week re- confirmed as a Nationalist candidate for the next elec- tions, said plans by the Mal- tese commissioner for equal- ity Helena Dalli to inflict penalties on EU countries that do not respect LGBTQI rights was "Marxism at its best". Grech wants reshuffle Edwin Vassallo: his comments instantly received a tweet from Bernard Grech saying that he was not in agreement with him