REMARKS BY THE HON. DR. LAWRENCE GONZI, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR SOCIAL POLICY, ON THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL'S REPORT TO THE 2001 ILO CONFERENCE ON "REDUCING THE DECENT WORK DEFICIT: A GLOBAL CHALLENGE" – GENEVE

Mr Chairman,

May I first of all congratulate the ILO on the theme selected for your report this year and more specifically on the holistic and comprehensive approach to how the decent work deficit should and could be reduced. Indeed, globalisation has triggered a process of restructuring of unprecedented magnitude across all of the world's economies. In times of such vast and fast changes where the desire to remain competitive is so compelling, we might be easily led to allow our social policy objectives to play second fiddle to economic exigencies. Worse still, we could even be tempted to allow social policy to become simply a by-product of our economic agenda.

Thankfully, this has not proved to be a popular formula. The fact that we are here today debating how the decent work deficit could be best tackled, collectively and individually, is itself a strong indication that we do not subscribe to a model of economic progress bereft of any social conscience. It is for this reason and in this context that I heartily congratulate H.E. President Mkape of Tanzania for his eloquent and touching speech to this assembly. It is also in this context that, tomorrow I will present to the Director General, Malta's notification of ILO Convention No.182 and Recommendation 190 concerning the worst forms of child labour.

Our objective is an inclusive society. My Government, together with the social partners, have therefore striven to formulate and implement strong and consolidated policy responses to the realities unfolding before us. Allow me, therefore, Mr President, to present you with a brief overview of how we in Malta are proposing to reduce the decent work deficit. I shall focus on the most recent initiatives.

A few days ago, the Maltese Parliament has adopted the new Malta Council for Economic and Social Development Act, establishing a national council charged with advising Government on issues relating to the sustainable economic and social development of Malta. Building on the 12 years experience of its predecessor, the new Council comprises an enhanced social flavour through the widening of its terms of reference to include the social dimension. It also establishes a Committee for Civil Society, which will include, on a permanent basis, representatives from key national organisations. The Committee is structured in a manner that can encompass all local civil society organisations as and when necessary. The new structure, its permanent status, its composition and scope mirrors my Government's commitment to manage effectively the core relationship between economic and social agendas.

A wide-ranging programme of reform, including consolidation and updating of existing legislation as well as the introduction of new labour legislation is currently underway. Thus subsidiary legislation is currently being drafted and the necessary structures are being put into place to protect employees subject to collective redundancies, to provide posted workers with information on the prevalent terms and conditions of employment, and to protect employees in cases of insolvency of the employer. A Gender Equality Act expected to be adopted by the first quarter of 2002 will provide for the protection against direct and indirect discrimination based on sex in the field of employment and training, as well as protection against sexual harassment. This Act will also establish the office of a Gender Equality Commissioner who will hear and investigate cases of sexual discrimination and alleged breaches of the principle of equal pay for work of equal value. In the sphere of occupational health and safety, a new Health and Safety Authority for the purpose has been set-up in May with the brief to enable more efficient and effective health and safety inspections as well as to support social partners through training programmes and consultation processes. Maltese legislation will be adopting practically all European standards on occupational health and safety by the first quarter of next year.

In this context, Mr President, please allow me to express the appreciation of my government for the concrete support provided by the ILO through its experts, who have helped us to draw up the necessary legislative instruments.

Government representatives and the social partners have been actively involved in examining the sustainability of Malta's social protection systems since June 1999. The National Commission for Welfare Reform has been charged with identifying the demographic, social and economic attributes for the formulation of proposals on welfare reform and with the submission of proposals on reforms of pension funding and provision. Its recommendations are due shortly.

The business plan of the national recruiting and training agency, the Employment and Training Corporation (ETC) for the period 2000-2003 addresses the implementation of active labour market measures, focusing on employment initiatives for youth job seekers, long-term unemployed and job seekers over forty years of age. Special attention is also given to the placement of women job seekers and persons who are disadvantaged.

Mr President, reducing the decent work deficit is a very demanding agenda. It requires robust and relentless efforts from all sides, both at the national level and at the international level. The ILO has a sterling role in seeing this agenda through, not only as an "honest broker" as you quite rightly suggest in your report, but, on a higher plane, that of the principal visionary and mentor for us all. The Maltese Government and the social partners reaffirm their commitment to the efforts undertaken in this regard by this forum and look forward to their continued participation and contribution in the fulfilment of this common goal.

I thank you for your attention.