The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) is pleased to host a free public conference showcasing original research by CLS academics and students.

The conference reflects our belief in the importance of sharing research and encouraging discussion on key work-related issues. At a time of major change in the world of work, research is essential for understanding the challenges facing workers, employers, and society. In Malta, where more work-related research is urgently needed, this conference creates a valuable space for discussion and exchange.

Bringing together students, alumni, researchers, academics, and others interested in labour and employment, the conference offers a forum to engage with current research and explore important themes shaping the world of work.

Click here for further information and registration.

CLS Research Conference

The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) is proud to announce a free public event detailing the findings of original research produced by CLS academics and students. The CLS produces a great deal of research and the aim of this conference is to make the findings of some of this research more visible. The conference also aims to provide CLS students, alumni, researchers, academics, and others who are interested in the world of work and related topics with a forum in which to discuss these important topics.

Academics will present original findings about the world of work in Malta. Dr Luke Fiorini will discuss perceptions of trade unions in Malta, taking into consideration the views of both members and non-members. Prof. Manwel Debono’s presentation will analyse the relation between perceived shop stewards’ effectiveness and members’ attitudes. Prof. Anna Borg and Dr Krista Bonello will present preliminary findings from their qualitative study of the working experiences of South Asian third-country nationals in Malta. Further information on these academics and abstracts of their presentations can be found on the ‘Speakers’ section of this website.

Following this, two concurrent sessions will be held where recent students of the Bachelor in Work and Human Resources (Hons) and the Bachelor in Occupational Health and Safety (Hons) will present findings from their theses. There will be a prize-giving ceremony (thanks to Simonds Farsons Cisk plc and the Farsons Foundation) where awards will be given to those with the best dissertations and overall classification.

Click here for further information and registration. 

CLS Research Conference
A public online event detailing the findings of original research produced by CLS academics and students. Research topics include poverty, working conditions, health and safety at work, gender, and human resources.

Modest income inequality increases in Malta between 2005-2018, study finds
The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) at the University of Malta held an online event on Tuesday 22 June 2021 to present the findings of a study on income inequalities in Malta. The event was opened by the Director of the CLS, Dr Luke Fiorini, who highlighted that the study was conducted in view of a lack of clarity on how income inequalities had changed in Malta over the years. Mr Gilmour Camilleri and Mr Melchior Vella, who carried out the study itself, then presented its key findings, highlighting amongst others, that different measures of inequality provide different pictures of inequality in Malta. Furthermore, several factors were found to drive inequalities in Malta. Among these factors are education levels, labour market status, and the occupation of household members. The study also found modest inequality increasing during the period 2005 and 2018, which was mildly neutralised through government intervention. Finally, the study concluded that without policy intervention, the imperfectness of the labour market can result in further inequality. Thus an important implication for policy is to reduce further barriers to economic inclusion as the benefits of growth can easily become battered by its downsides due to the roles of globalisation, technology and market forces. The key findings of the study can be accessed online.

Europe Social Days 2020
Between the 11th and 13th of May 2020, due to COVID-19, Europe Social Dayswas held online through the University of Malta Platform. Students from theGender Work and Society course participated in the online event and Prof.Godfrey Baldacchino was invited as guest speaker to celebrate the 20thanniversary since the network organising ESD was set up.

Europe Social Days 2019
Between the 1st and 4th of April 2019, eight students from the Centre for Labour Studies who are following the Bachelor in Work and HR (Hons) course,together with Dr Anna Borg and Dr Theo Koning (visiting lecturer with the CLS)participated in the Europe Social Days held in Brussels. A number of different workshops were offered which focused on: superdiversity and social cohesion;poverty and social exclusion in Europe; more people at work; unemployment social benefits, work, and activation; recruitment and selection; digital economy and society; the future of work; healthy ageing; the gender pay gapmyth or real; climate and social work: people planet profit. Emma Scerri representing the CLS students. participated in the House of Commons Debate which tackled the issue of legalisation of prostitution.

The 8th International Community, Work and Family conference

The 8th International Community, Work and Family conference took place at the Valletta campus of the University of Malta between the 23rd to the 25th May, 2019 with the theme: Community, Work and Family in Diverse Contexts and Changing Times. Over 100 renowned experts, academics, and Ph.D. students from a broad range of countries and disciplines attended the conference in Malta. The conference was linked to the Taylor & Francis Journal, ‘Community Work and Family’. Dr Anna Borg led the organising team of the conference on behalf of the Centre for Labour Studies. The team included: Professor Suzan Lewis, Middlesex University; Professor Laura Den Dulk, Erasmus University Rotterdam; and Dr Clarice Santos, University of Lincoln. During the three-day conference, the participants delved into some of the challenges that families, communities and organisations face in the 21st century across different parts of the world. The papers presented during the event spanned across broad topics that analysed the work-life interface of various groups. These included parents, with a special focus on fathers, and other clusters that are generally less well researched such as the police and the military, migrants, solo entrepreneurs, the LGBTIQ community and those who work with people with special needs. The recurrent themes of the gendered division of labour within the family and work-life policies were discussed by various researchers, as were the issues of flexible work, family policy, and the impact of technology. The issue of peer, supervisory, management and community support was also tackled in relation to the work-life interface.

Europe Social Days 2018
Nine students who are following the Gender, Work and Society course offered by the Centre for Labour Studies, had the opportunity to attend the 2018 Social Europe Days event which was held in Leuven and Brussels between 14 and16 May. 

The programme which ended with a visit to the European Parliament. Illustrious speakers for this event included the ILO President, Luc Cortebeeck and, Jeanne Devos, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2009 for her missionary work in India with domestic workers. Nine universities from across Europe participated in this event.  

During these three days Maltese students had the opportunity to debate, discuss and present their work in relation to Work and HR and related issues. The students were accompanied by CLS  Director, Dr Anna Borg.

Network of Eurofound Correspondents 
Dr Anna Borg and Dr Manwel Debono attended the Network of Eurofound Correspondents - NEC Annual Meeting which was held in Dublin between 12 and 13 April 2018. The Centre for Labour Studies has just won a four year contract from Eurofound to provide labour market research on Malta. 

Business and Professional Women
Dr Anna Borg, Director CLS, attended the Business and Professional Women (BPW) Careers Day which was held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. During this event students from various government, church and private schools had the opportunity to discuss their careers with mentors from various area of specialisation. Present at the event was a group of UM academics from other entities.

Work Life Balance for Parents and Carers
Dr Anna Borg, CLS Director was invited to speak, by the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL), during a public hearing on Work Life Balance for Parents and Carers. This event was held at the European Parliament in Brussels on 21 February 2018.

During this hearing the proposals to improve work life balance for working parents were discussed by a panel of experts. The proposal suggests that fathers are granted ten days paid paternity leave, four months paid parental leave, five days of carers leave and the right to request flexible work arrangements (FWA’s).

The panel included speakers from the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC); the European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (UEAPME); the MenCare Campaign and three independent experts including Dr Anna Borg.

HRPA - Human Resources Professionals Association
Work and HR students and graduates of the Centre for Labour Studies at UM, met on the 14 September 2017 to discuss the possibility of setting up a Human Resources Professional Association. Ms Gabriella Farrugia gave a presentation on the subject and discussions were held on the way forward.

The vision behind the HR Professionals Association is to ensure that HR is a recognised and regulated profession in Malta: essential for organisations to maintain sound employee relations in a professional manner as well as adding a quantifiable value to organisations whilst also contributing in the growth and advancement of the local work force. 

For further information please contact Ms Gabriella Farrugia via email.   

Europe Social Days 2017: Work & HR students win the best statement in the House of Commons Debate during the 2017 Europe Social Days held in Leuven and Brussels
Two students from the Centre for Labour Studies, Annabel Muscat and Adrian Farrugia, won a prize for the best debating statement during the House of Commons Debate which was organised as part of Europe Social Days 2017. This event, which is held annually in Leuven and Brussels, brings students from nine different European universities who are studying Human Resources and Social Work.  

The statement by Anabel Muscat and Adrian Farrugia dealt with the banning of visible religious signs at the workplace. 
 
Gender Equality Legislation Seminar
The Centre for Labour Studies organised a seminar on the proposed Gender Equality Legislation on Thursday 27 April 2017.

During this seminar Renee Laiviera from the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality (NCPE) delivered a presentation on the draft Bill: Towards A Robust Human Rights And Equality Framework. Arthur Muscat, Vice President of the Malta Employers Association, and Mel McElhatton, President and Co-founder of Gender Equality Malta, gave their reaction to the proposed bill. 

The seminar was chaired by the Director of the Centre for Labour Studies, Dr Anna Borg.
 
Launch of the University of Malta Debating Union 
Dr Anna Borg participated in the first debate organised by the University of Malta Debating Union on the 15 February 2017. During this event the theme 'Does the University of Malta live up to your expectations?’ was discussed by a panel of academics, which included Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino and Prof. Dominic Fenech and UM students. The university Rector Prof. Alfred Vella inauguarted this event.   

Diploma in Gender Work and Society - Cohort 2017-2019
The Diploma Course in Gender, Work and Society, offered by the Centre for Labour Studies in collaboration with the Department for Gender Studies, started on 1 February 2017. The course attracted 26 students who were eligible for the course.

Elaine Compagno, Michelle Cilia, Mary Baldacchino, Stephanie Muscat, Sandy Calleja Portelli and Margaret Zammit, all graduates of this course, shared their experiences with the new students. The new students were addressed by the CLS Director Dr Anna Borg, and by Dr Marceline Naudi on behalf of the Department for Gender Studies.

Europe Social Days preparatory meeting
Delegates from the University of Groningen, Leuven, Malaga, Malta, Munich and Zurich, met for a preparatory meeting at the University of Malta. The aim of the meeting, which was organised by the Centre for Labour Studies, was to plan and discuss the upcoming Europe Social Days event held in Leuven and Brussels in May 2017. This event was open to University students from across the EU who are studying Human Resources or Social Work. Students from the Centre for Labour Studies, and the Faculty of Social Wellbeing participated in the May 2017 event.

Family Friendly Measures (FFM) - What can unions do to close the differences between workers' right for FFM in the public and Private Sector?
Maltese unions met to discuss the differences between the rights enjoyed by Public Sector employees, and those working in the Private Sector when talking about Family Friendly Measures. The respective unions highlighted the best practices from the private sector that have already been adopted. The Seminar was inaugurated by H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, President of Malta.

Island Tourism: Economic and Labour Market Implications
RETI, the Network of Island Universities, held its annual symposium and school at the Valletta Campus of the University of Malta between November 18 and 23. The event was coordinated by Professor Godfrey Baldacchino and was organised by the University of Malta’s Centre for Labour Studies and the Institute of Tourism, Travel and Culture. It dwelt on the economic and labour market implications of (small) island tourism.

View the article on Newspoint UM's news portal and get to know more. 

An addition to the CLS Library
The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) at the University of Malta is pleased to announce the receipt of a selection of books and documents relating to the pursuit of workers’ participation and industrial democracy in Malta donated to the CLS by former Minister Dr Michael Frendo. In attendance at the launch on Friday 3rd June 2016 were also members of the CLS Board. A copy of the database, which amounts to 101 items, is available online on the CLS website.

Many of the books and notes in this unique collection  served as basis for research undertaken by Dr Frendo when completing his graduate thesis entitled: Workers' self-management: A new concept of the legal structure of the enterprise in Malta and Yugoslavia (1977).  

Follow the links to view the article on Newspoint and Facebook
  
Erasmus Exchange
Dr Anna Borg and Dr Manwel Debono from the Centre for Labour studies participated in an Erasmus exchange with the University of Applied Science in Groningen- the Netherlands, between 19 and 26 May. Here Dr Anna Borg gave lectures in relation to Work-Life Issues as analysed through the Gender Lens, whilst Dr Manwel Debono delivered lectures in relation to Sustainable Work and Elderly Workers.

Industrial Relations Training Programme
The Centre for Labour Studies (CLS) at the University of Malta organised an intensive, four-day training programme in Industrial Relations aimed to improve skills in dealing with trade union affairs, industrial relations issues and disputes. A programme tailored for permanent secretaries and senior heads in the public sector, was delivered by a variety of academics, administrators and practitioners during April and May 2016. It was organized by the CLS in association with the Centre for Development, Research and Training (CDRT) of the Office of the Prime Minister.
View the article on the Times of Malta and on Newspoint. 

Social Europe Days 2016 
Students from the Bachelor in Work and HR at the Centre for Labour Studies had the opportunity to participate in the Social Europe Days 2016. This event sought the participation of other European Universities, which created a platform which enabled students to meet and reflect, to study and learn during the various workshop that were organised.

View the full article by Maria Azzopardi, a 2nd year Work and HR student at the Centre for Labour Studies, on Newspoint, UM's news portal.

Lizianne Gauci, a Bachelor in Work and Human Resources (Hons) student won the best debater award during the House of Commons Debate organised during the Europe Social Days held in Brussels between 11 and 14 April.

Work-Life Issues 
Students studying Work and Human Resources at the Centre for Labour Studies (University of Malta) explored Work-Life Issues and presented their findings during a recent seminar held in a hotel in Attard. The students carried out research in local organisations in order to find out more how companies perceive Flexible Work and what they can do in order to ensure better work life (or work-family) integration. Dr Esther Baarda and Ms Cecile Oosting from the Hanze University of Applied Sciences in Groningen participated in this event through the Erasmus fund. 

50/50 Boardrooms
A discussion was launched at the Times of Malta business breakfast about gender balance in senior management positions. The study was a result of collaboration between the Centre for Labour Studies at the University of Malta, the University of Iceland, and the Institute for Social Research in Norway and the University of California (San, Diego, USA). KPMG in Malta in collaboration with the Centre for Labour Studies to carry the survey at the local level. 

The  report and study: Survey on Gender Balance in Senior Management Positions [PDF][PDF] 

Further articles:
Gender quotas: problem or solution for boards?
Gender balance in senior management positions

Role and Work of Unions in Promoting Active Ageing through Collective Bargaining
On 14 April 2015, the Office of the President in collaboration with the Centre for Labour Studies organised a half-day seminar.

Article:
President warns against exploitation of elderly employees - Times of Malta