Malta minister backtracks over foreign worker deportation comments
Economy Minister Silvio Schembri has apologised for declaring foreign citizens would be deported after losing jobs
Malta’s economy minister has apologised for saying foreign workers will be deported if they lose their jobs during the coronavirus crisis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Silvio Schembri said he was keen to “set the record straight” after his divisive speech in parliament caused outrage online.
Addressing the coronavirus outbreak, Schembri’s speech said “charity begins at home” and that laid-off foreign workers would need to “go back to their own countries”.
Schembri has since apologised, insisting the government is united in its respect for all workers, regardless of nationality.
As of June 2019, 69% of all employees in the island’s online gaming industry were non-Maltese.
Congrats @SilvioSchembri. Just when the country was working together for a common cause, you had to be divisive. Just when we started looking out for each other, you disrupted with your comments. Just when we needed proper leaders you chose to abdicate that responsibility.
— Reuben Balzan (@ReubenBalzan) March 18, 2020
“This man is no leader of mine and does not represent me or what being Maltese is all about,” said Nolimit City commercial director Malcolm Mizzi on LinkedIn. “I feel totally ashamed by this sorry excuse of a politician and what he stands for.
“To all my international connections living and working in Malta, that have and still contribute to our economy, thank you for making our country more colourful and enlightening us.
“You are my neighbour and my friend, be you a low-income worker or high-net-worth CEO, and we are all together in this fight,” he added.
Malta is in the midst of an international travel ban in a bid to get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.