Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/424604
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2014 15 likely ensure this happens soon. Asked about the allegations of withholding workers' passports, Grech Cumbo explains that they are taken to apply for their residence permit and then returned. Pressed on this, he maintained that the pass- ports are always returned. One Maltese worker with 10 years' experience in the textile industry says the conditions he used to work under before do not begin to com- pare with Leisure Clothing. He cites less pressure, flexible hours and a far less stressful working environment. "Where I used to work before, we were like robots, here this is great. "I dare you to go to any factory in Malta and see how the workers are treated there," another employee said, describing another Maltese tex- tile factory she had worked for as "a nightmare". "Here you have a quota which you have to reach, but you are free to work as much as you want". Whichever way you skin it, this is a far cry from slave labour and human trafficking. Even when not answering questions the Maltese and Chinese workers appeared, surprisingly, to be in genuine good spirits. Several workers got up from their posts to see what was going on and appeared glad to have an opportunity to have their side of the story heard. This was not forced or coerced – there is an undeniably friendly, fa- miliar atmosphere on the shopfloor. "We are one big family. I leave home and come to another home, here," one worker said. One Chinese employee, nicknamed "Lily" by the Maltese (on account of her unpronounceable Chinese name), told MaltaToday she was here on a three-year contract and was "very happy here", adding that she recently returned from a 42-day holiday in China. Asked if she will be renewing her contract when this expires, she said she probably wouldn't, since she will be getting married soon. "Fair enough, don't believe us, but you have seen with your own eyes the freedom we have here. We hope you get the word out that we are happy here," said one Maltese employee ex- asperated at our cynicism. The Chinese workers spoken to privately appeared pleased with their conditions of work. One worker, asked directly whether she was re- ceiving all her pay, answered: "Of course! Whenever I need money I get it." It wasn't possible to tell if this was an indication that conditions are not entirely in compliance with local em- ployment law, or simply due to un- familiarity with the intricacies of the English language. Few of the workers encountered there spoke English with any flu- ency. Some showed off their mobile phones, others designer clothes. One worker showed off a – all things be- ing said rather vulgar – gold watch which she claims she bought for some €300 while on a trip abroad. She says she has four. They informed us that every month the company's clients send technical auditors to inspect the production line. These clients included major international fashion brands, but several are considering withdrawing after the slavery allegations. One Chinese senior management official summed up the ominous sit- uation that Leisure Clothing seemed to face due to the human trafficking charges against Bin Han. "To build this factory we needed 28 years, but it looks like it will only take 28 days to destroy it…" magius@mediatoday.com.mt happy to find Chinese factory News the common parts of the block valued at seventy thousand euro (! 70,000). 9 th December, 2014 33/13 – 11.00am PP House numbered thirty five (35) in Triq is- Sajjieda, Marsa valued at sixty three thousand Euros (! 63,000) 9 th December, 2014 49/13 – 11.30am PP • Shop officially numbered seven hundred and twenty (720) in Triq il- Kbira, "amrun without airspace underlaying property of third. The shop has a common rainwater and drainage system with the overlaying property and is subject to servitudes which result from the said position.The property is subject to an annual ground rent of four hundred and sixty seven Euros and eighty seven cents (!467.87) valued at two hundred and fifty five thousand Euros ( !255,000) • Shop officially numbered seven hundred and twenty one (721) in Triq il- Kbira, "amrun. The shop is subject to servitudes which result from the said position free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and thirty two Thousand Euros ( !132,000). 11 th December, 2014 77/13 – 12.00pm PP • Apartment internally marked number three (3), on the second floor including overlaying air space forming part of Block of Apartments' named 'Anvil Apartments', numbered four (4), in Triq il- Minfa', Naxxar, free and unencumbered valued one hundred and ninety thousand Euros (!190,000) Included with the apartment there is the use of the common parts which include the outside stairs, outside door, entrance hall, the stairs to the roof, the lift and its shaft and water and drainage system. ! Six Garages under the block of apartments named 'Anvil Apartments', numbered four (4), in Triq il- Minfa', Naxxar internally marked; ! Garage number two (2) of approx 73.47 meters squared valued forty five thousand Euros (! 45,000) ! Garage number three (3) of approx 13.71 meters squared valued twenty three thousand Euros (! 23,000) ! Garage number four (4) of approx 13.80 meters squared valued twenty three thousand Euros (! 23,000) ! Garage number five (5), of approx 11.78 meters squared valued twenty thousand Euros (! 20,000) ! Garage number six (6) of approx 15.74 meters squared valued twenty five thousand Euros (! 25,000) • Portion of land marked number twelve (12) measuring circa one hundred and sixty five metres squared (165m 2 ), bordering from the west with a projected private street, from the North with properties of Mariella Mercieca and from the South with property of Three Jays Limited, an undivided share of 1/37 of a land projected for a street marked in blue of circa seven hundred and thirty three metres squared (733m 2 ), an undivided share of 1/37 of a land projected for a street marked in pink of circa three hundred and seventy eight metres squared (378m 2 ) and an undivided share of 1/37 of a lane marked in green, free and unencumbered, valued at one hundred and ten thousand Euros( !110,000 ). • Portion of land marked number twenty seven (27) measuring circa one hundred sixty eight metres squared (168m 2 ), bordering from the East with a projected private street ,from the North with plot number twenty six (26) property of Three Jays. Ltd and from The South with plot number twenty eight (28) property of Small Properties Limited, an undivided share of 1/37 of a land projected for a street marked in blue of circa seven hundred and thirty three metres squared (733m 2 ), an undivided share of 1/37 of a land projected for a street marked in pink of circa three hundred and seventy eight metres squared (378m 2 ) and an undivided share of 1/37 of a lane marked in green, free and unencumbered, valued at one hundred and thirty five thousand Euros ( !135,000 ). • Portion of land marked number twenty eight (28) measuring circa one hundred sixty eight metres squared (168m 2 ), bordered from West and East with a projected private street,from the North with plot number twenty seven (27) property of Small Properties Limited an undivided share of 1/37 from every part of land projected for a street and an undivided share of 1/37 of a lane, free and ununcumbered and an undivided share of 1/37 of a land projected for a street marked in blue of circa seven hundred and thirty three metres squared (733m 2 ), an undivided share of 1/37 of a land projected for a street marked in pink of circa three hundred and seventy eight metres squared (378m 2 ) and an undivided share of 1/37 of a lane marked in green, free and unencumbered valued at one hundred and forty eight thousand Euros (!148,000). Further details can be obtained from the website: http://www.justiceservices.gov.mt/courtservices/JudicialSales/search.aspx The bidders taking part in the auction must present their identity card. Rudolph Marmara' For the Registrar of Civil Courts and Tribunals In some unsupervised questions to the few English- speaking workers, surprisingly not one had a bad word to say about their conditions