Publication of a new Booklet

The appointment of a Director elected by and from the workers is one of the forms in which the principles of Workers' Participation can be implemented. The newly elected Government, in October 1996 announced its intention of appointing more worker directors in the enterprises under its control. The overhaul of self-management at Malta Drydocks was also accompanied by the introduction of minority worker directors on the Board of the enterprise.

The Workers' Participation Development Centre (WPDC) at the University of Malta consistently supports the election of worker directors and feels that it should contribute to this debate. In March 1997 it organised a seminar on this topic in collaboration with Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) during which the experiences of Workers Directors in Malta were discussed. This booklet includes the contributions of the main speakers at the seminar and the discussion that ensued.

A critical evaluation of the role of worker directors on the basis of past practice is provided by two former worker directors while the prospects for future development are analysed by an ex Minister and a University academic. The booklet should be of interest to trade unionists, politicians and those involved in Industrial Relations as well as to those who uphold the principle of workers participation and would like it to evolve as a viable non-confrontational initiative in the context of Industrial Relations.

The Editor of this booklet namely Mr. Saviour Rizzo together with Prof. Edward Zammit and Ms. Ebba Von Ferson Balzan from the Workers Participation Development Centre of the University of Malta, and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation respectively presented the first copy of this publication to Dr. Gavin Gulia Parliamentary Secretary for the Self-Employed who is responsible for Industrial Relations.

MALTESE TRANSLATION

Ktejjeb Gdid dwar Diretturi eletti mill-Haddiem

Il-kariga ta' Diretturi eletti minn, u minn fost il-'?addiema hi wa'?da mill-forom tal-Parte'?ipazzjoni tal-'?addiema. Hekk kif il-Gvern 'did 'ie elett f'Ottubru ta' l-1996 '?abbar li kien bi '?siebu ja'?tar aktar '?addiema diretturi f'dawk l-a'?jendi fejn il-Gvern '?andu sehem ewlieni fit-tmexxija. Il-bidla fit-tmexxija tat-Tarzna wasslet ukoll biex ikun hemm '?addiema diretturi eletti f' minoranza fuq il-Bord ta' dik l-impri'?a.

I'?-'?entru '?all-I'?vilupp tal-Parte'?ipazzjoni tal-'?addiema 'ewwa l-Universita' ta' Malta ja'?ti l-appo'' tie'?u '?at-twettiq siewi ta' din il-kariga flimkien mas-sehem tie'?u f'dan id-dibattitu. '?alhekk f'Marzu ta' l-1997 b'kollaborazzjoni mal-Fondazzjoni Friedrich Ebert (FES) organizza seminar ta' jumejn dwar dan is-su''ett fejn fost affarijiet o'?ra 'ew diskussi l-esperjenzi u r-rwol tal-'?addiema Diretturi f'Malta. Dan il-ktejjeb ji'bor id-diskors tal-kelliema f'dan is-seminar u l-punti li tqajjmu waqt id-diskussjoni.

Matul is-seminar 'ew studjati l-esperjenzi ta' '?ew' ex-'?addiema diretturi, il-kummenti ta' ex-Ministru u ta' akkademiku mi'?-'?entru. Dawn joffru anala'?i li t'?in '?alli wie'?ed ikun jista' j'?ares il-quddiem f'dan il-qasam. Dan il-ktejjeb '?alhekk '?andu jkun ta' interess partikulari '?at-trejd unjonisim politikanti, '?al dawk li jemmnu u j'?o'?'?u l-prin'?ipju tal-parte'?ipazzjoni tal-'?addiema, kif ukoll '?al dawk kollha nvoluti fil-qasam tar-relazzjonijiet industrijali f'ambjent ta' kollaborazzjoni bejn l-imsie'?ba so'?jali.

L-Editur ta' dan il-ktejjeb is-Sur Saviour Rizzo flimkien mal-Prof. Edward Zammit mi'?-'?entru '?all-I'?vilupp tal-Parte'?ipazzjoni tal-'?addiema tal-Universita' ta' Malta u s-Sinjura Ebba Von Ferson mill-Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, ippre'?entaw l-ewwel kopja ta' din il-pubblikazzjoni lil Dr. Gavin Gulia, Segretarju Parlamentari '?as-Self-Employed li huwa responsabbli '?ar-Relazzjonijiet Industrijali.