Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543912
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 15 MARCH 2026 NEWS www.pa.org.mt Expression of Interest Engagement of Periti to provide support in the processing of Planning Authority Locality Funding applications (Ref: EOI 001/2026) The Planning Authority is hereby inviting qualified individuals to participate in this expression of interest for the Engagement of Periti to provide support in the processing of Planning Authority Locality Funding applications. The Expression of Interest document can be downloaded from the Authority website on the following link: http://www.pa.org.mt/en/expression-of-interests. Offers are to be deposited in the tender box at the Authority offices at 3, Triq Fra Diegu, Marsa MRS 1501 by Thursday, 9 , April 2026 before 10:00 am. th Any requests for clarifications concerning this Expression of Interest should be addressed to the Director of Corporate Services on email tenders@pa.org.mt by not later than Tuesday, 24 , March 2026. th Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Casa Paola elderly home threatened employees to leave union EMPLOYEES working in the Casa Paola elderly home in Paola have been pressured and threat- ened to forfeit their union mem- bership, MaltaToday has learnt. A number of employees, mostly third country nationals, have described being warned by their managers about mem- bership in union Solidarjeta. Last week, the union an- nounced industrial action at the Paola home after manage- ment refused to enter negotia- tions on a collective agreement. The action was also in response to what the union described as "retaliatory and intimida- tory behaviour" by the home's manage- ment towards e m p l o y e e s who joined its ranks. A c c o r d - ing to m u l t i p l e e m p l o y e e s who spoke to MaltaTo- day on condi- tion of anonymity, the issue started when their shifts started to change. The employees used to work 11-hour shifts on a day-in-day- out basis. Employees started feeling overworked when their hours changed and their shifts short- ened, so they could not meet the required monthly hours. To make up for this, the man- agement would call employees on their off days or while they are on leave so they can cover for sick colleagues. Some employees even stated that their vacation leave would be reduced if they did not meet their monthly hours. This, and other working con- ditions, encouraged the em- ployees to become members of Solidarjeta. When the Casa Paola management heard of this, they started to ask em- ployees why they felt the need to join the union. Dylan Bez- zina, CEO of Lyons Group, which operates the home, be- came personally involved in such talks. After some time, some of the foreign employees were being told that their work permits and contracts would not be re- newed. Other employees said that their colleagues were told that their work permits and contracts would only be re- newed if they leave the union. Refusal to recognise Solidarjeta The management slammed the door on any discussions with Solidarjeta with the home's CEO, Dylan Bezzina, refuting the union's recogni- tion on the workplace despite being shown a verification re- port from the Department for Industrial and Employment Relations (DIER). When DIER eventually stepped in and tried to mediate between Solidarjeta and Casa Paola, the company refused to attend the meeting. MaltaToday reached out to Casa Paola's management for comment but no response was forthcoming. Meanwhile, Solidarjeta ini- tiated a formal trade dispute after its members voted to take industrial action. Since Saturday, a number of directives came into force, in- cluding the refusal of unsched- uled shifts with less than 24 hours' notice unless they are paid at the applicable overtime rate, and declining duties that fall outside employees' desig- nated roles. Union members will also limit certain tasks, including accom- panying only one resident at a time to hospital or medical appointments and washing a maximum of six residents per shift. MATTHEW FARRUGIA mfarrugia@mediatoday.com.mt Casa Paola elderly home in Paola (Photo: Dunstan Borg/MaltaToday) CEO Dylan Bezzina Employees started feeling overworked when their hours changed and their shifts shortened, so they could not meet the required monthly hours