Facilitating labour mobility for EU citizens : effective guidance services within the public employment service in Malta

Abstract

As of May 2004, EU citizens who come to Malta to look for work have the right to register as unemployed with the Employment and Training Corporation, Malta's public employment service provider. By looking at certain characteristics such as nationality, gender, age and educational attainment it was possible to build a profile of the typical EU national registering for work. Results showed that most non Maltese EU nationals on the unemployment register are males, between the ages of 20 to 29 and supposedly have at least a secondary level of education. Non-Maltese EU nationals register mainly during the holiday seasons; but many terminate their registration within a few weeks. This investigation also concerns career guidance practices and services offered by the ETC to non-Maltese EU nationals. Its main objectives were to find out whether non-Maltese EU nationals think that ETC services are adequate and sufficient, and to gather information about their experience of looking for work in a foreign country. Twenty-one interviews were conducted with non-Maltese EU nationals registering for work. Results showed that most of the interviewees were satisfied with ETC services; however, there was a real sense of urgency to find a job and earn money to be able to stay in Malta. As their situation can become rather precarious, foreigners are often victims of the black economy, ready to accept any job offer, no matter how bad it may seem. These circumstances also lead to 'downgrading', as individuals are willing to take on any job, even if this is well below their educational attainment. These issues suggest that ETC services need to be more immediate in order to be effective, more frequent guidance services may need to be provided, and non-Maltese EU nationals would benefit from relevant information regarding working conditions in Malta as well as from training opportunities to facilitate a smoother transition into the local labour market.