Malta Shipyards lost Lm2 million more than projected in 2006 because of low productivity problems, according to Minister for Industry, Investment and Information Technology Austin Gatt.
In turn, the company’s net losses for last year are expected to total to approximately Lm8.8 million, reported The Times of Malta. Minister Austin Gatt explained how losses came about even though the amount of work being done by the shipyards had increased adding that "People are only working for four-and-a-half hours in a six-and-a-half-hour shift."
shipyardDr. Gatt also made reference to protests which ensure at the shipyard earlier during the month when 60 workers demonstrated against the management after it took disciplinary action against a number of workers who were found asleep during their working hours.
The Minister added that the General Workers Union (GWU) which represents shipyard workers, supervisors and managers was “irresponsible” to defend the protesting workers and insist that they were “simply taking a walk”.
The Times of Malta reported that the Minister further said that shipyard workers who decide to "take a walk" when they are at work might just as well keep walking out of the dockyards, because they would be sacked.
"A quarter of the national debt is due to funding of the shipyards. The people are the ones who have supported the shipyards. In 2002, the shipyard lost Lm23 million,” added Dr. Gatt.
Speaking during a party supporters meeting in Sta Lucija Dr. Gatt did highlight that the situation at the shipyard has improved by stating that “Today, we are selling work for September, not for next week, as we used to do before.”
"I am convinced the shipyard can make it, but if we want to play political games, let's not play games with the future of 1,400 people in the shipyard. Politics will not dominate at the shipyards any more. We believe in shipyard workers. They can deliver and turn the shipyards into a profitable enterprise,” he concluded.
In turn, the company’s net losses for last year are expected to total to approximately Lm8.8 million, reported The Times of Malta. Minister Austin Gatt explained how losses came about even though the amount of work being done by the shipyards had increased adding that "People are only working for four-and-a-half hours in a six-and-a-half-hour shift."
shipyardDr. Gatt also made reference to protests which ensure at the shipyard earlier during the month when 60 workers demonstrated against the management after it took disciplinary action against a number of workers who were found asleep during their working hours.
The Minister added that the General Workers Union (GWU) which represents shipyard workers, supervisors and managers was “irresponsible” to defend the protesting workers and insist that they were “simply taking a walk”.
The Times of Malta reported that the Minister further said that shipyard workers who decide to "take a walk" when they are at work might just as well keep walking out of the dockyards, because they would be sacked.
"A quarter of the national debt is due to funding of the shipyards. The people are the ones who have supported the shipyards. In 2002, the shipyard lost Lm23 million,” added Dr. Gatt.
Speaking during a party supporters meeting in Sta Lucija Dr. Gatt did highlight that the situation at the shipyard has improved by stating that “Today, we are selling work for September, not for next week, as we used to do before.”
"I am convinced the shipyard can make it, but if we want to play political games, let's not play games with the future of 1,400 people in the shipyard. Politics will not dominate at the shipyards any more. We believe in shipyard workers. They can deliver and turn the shipyards into a profitable enterprise,” he concluded.