L-Assoċjazzjoni Maltija għall-Iżvilupp (MDA) tagħmel riferenza għal stqarrijiet riċenti fil-midja, inkluż artiklu ppubblikat fit-Times of Malta, li jissuġġerixxi li l-ħaddiema tal-kostruzzjoni huma fost l-inqas imħallsa fl-ekonomija Maltija. Dawn it-talbiet jidher illi huma bbażati fuq statistika tal-Eurostat u marbuta ma’ sejbiet fil-Politika l-ġdida ta’ Malta dwar il-Migrazzjoni tax-Xogħol. Madankollu, l-MDA temmen li dawn l-interpretazzjonijiet ma jirriflettux l-istat veru tal-pagi fi ħdan l-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni.
Filwaqt L-MDA tirrikonoxxi l-importanza ta’ analiżi ta’ data sabiex tiġi fformata politika ġdida, tenfasizza nuqqasijiet fl-istatistika li qed tiġi kkwotata. Fost l-oħrajn, id-data tal-Eurostat, li tirrapporta pagi u salarji għal kull impjegat, ma tidhirx li tirrappreżenta profitti ġġenerati minn persuni li jaħdmu għal rashom, li potenzjalment twassal għal sottovalutazzjoni tal-livelli tal-pagi fl-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni. Din hija ommissjoni sinifikanti minħabba r-rwol sostanzjali li l-individwi li jaħdmu għal rashom għandhom fl-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni, li tirrappreżenta proporzjon sostanzjali ta’ ekwivalenti full-time.
Biex tipprovdi perspettiva aktar preċiża dwar is-salarji bażiċi, l-MDA tirreferi għal statistika mill-Labour Force Survey għal Malta. Skont dawn iċ-ċifri, is-salarju bażiku medju fix-xahar għall-impjegati fis-settur tal-kostruzzjoni kien ta’ €1,678 matul it-tielet kwart tal-2024. Dan jirrappreżenta żieda ta’ 6.49% meta mqabbel mal-istess perjodu fl-2023 (€1,576) [Labour Force Survey Q3/2024 NR 237/2024]. Ta’ min wieħed jinnota illi jekk wieħed jikkunsidra t-tkabbir fis-salarji bażiċi fuq perjodu ta’ 3 snin mill-2021 sal-2024 [dejta tal-2021 miġbura minn NR 043/2022], it-tkabbir annwali fis-salarji bażiċi fil-Kostruzzjoni ta’ 10.88% jeċċedi t-tkabbir annwali medju nazzjonali ta’ 6.78% , li jagħmilha t-tieni l-ogħla żieda settorjali wara s-settur tal-Informazzjoni u l-Komunikazzjoni, li rreġistra 11.93% tqum. Ta’ min jinnota wkoll li dawn iċ-ċifri jeskludu ħlasijiet għas-sahra, allowances u bonuses.
L-MDA issostni li l-istatistika tas-salarju bażiku mensili tipprovdi stampa aktar ċara tal-flus li jieħdu magħhom l-impjegati fl-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni. L-Assoċjazzjoni żżid li dawn iċ-ċifri jenfasizzaw l-impenn tas-settur illi jkollu pagi kompetittivi u l-benessri tal-ħaddiema tiegħu, kuntrarjament għal dak li jidher f’rapporti riċenti.
Huwa kruċjali li d-diskussjonijiet ta’ politika u l-perċezzjonijiet pubbliċi jkunu infurmati b’data komprensiva u preċiża. Interpretazzjonijiet żbaljati iġorru riskju li joħolqu narrattivi żbaljati dwar l-industrija tal-kostruzzjoni, li hija pedament tal-ekonomija ta’ Malta.
L-MDA tappella għal approċċ aktar sfumat biex tiġi analizzata l-istatistika tal-pagi f’Malta. Dawk li jfasslu l-politika u kwalsiasi parti interessata huma mħeġġa jqisu data li tirrifletti b’mod aktar preċiż ir-realtajiet tal-impjiegi b’salarju fis-settur tal-kostruzzjoni, bħall-Istħarriġ dwar il-Forza tax-Xogħol, biex jiżguraw illi t-teħid ta’ deċiżjonijiet ikunu ġusti u infurmati.
Malta Development Association Responds to Reports on Construction Worker Wages
The Malta Development Association (MDA) takes note of recent claims in the media, including an article published in the Times of Malta, suggesting that construction workers are among the lowest paid in the Maltese economy. These claims are based on Eurostat statistics and linked to findings in Malta’s new Labour Migration Policy. However, the MDA believes these interpretations do not reflect the true state of wages within the construction industry.
The MDA acknowledges the importance of data-driven analysis in shaping policy but highlights a critical oversight in the statistics being quoted. Specifically, the Eurostat data, which reports wages and salaries per employee, does not appear to account for profits generated by self-employed persons, potentially leading to an underestimation of wage levels within the construction indusry. This is a significant omission given the substantial role self-employed individuals play in the construction industry, representing a notable proportion of full-time equivalents.
To provide a more accurate perspective on basic salaries, the MDA refers to statistics from the Labour Force Survey for Malta. According to these figures, the average monthly basic salary for employees in the construction sector was €1,678 during the third quarter of 2024. This represents an 6.49% increase compared to the same period in 2023 (€1,576) [Labour Force Survey Q3/2024 NR 237/2024]. Notably, if one considers the growth in basic salaries over a 3 year period from 2021 to 2024 [2021 data sourced from NR 043/2022], the annual growth in basic salaries in Construction of 10.88% outpaces the national average annual growth of 6.78%, making it the second-highest sectoral increase after the Information and Communication sector, which recorded an 11.93% rise. Also note that these figures exclude payments for overtime, allowances and bonuses.
The MDA asserts that the monthly basic salary statistic provides a more accurate reflection of take-home pay for salaried employees within the construction indusry, unclouded by the complexities introduced by self-employment earnings. The Association emphasizes that these figures underscore the sector’s commitment to competitive wages and the wellbeing of its workforce, contrary to the portrayal in recent reports.
It is crucial that policy discussions and public perceptions are informed by comprehensive and accurate data. Misinterpretations risk creating misguided narratives about the construction industry, which is a cornerstone of Malta’s economy.
The MDA calls for a more nuanced approach to analysing wage statistics in Malta. Policymakers and stakeholders are encouraged to consider data that more accurately reflects the realities of salaried employment in the construction sector, such as the Labour Force Survey, to ensure fair and informed decision-making.