Promoting the integration of third-country nationals through the labour market : combating discrimination in employment : the case of third-country nationals in Malta

Abstract

The paper identifies a series of obstacles to the integration of Third Country Nationals as a category within the Maltese labour market, including: TCNs’ lack of knowledge about the procedures for obtaining a work permit; institutionalised discrimination against them as a category in allowing their entry into the labour market; opaque, dilatory and discretionary procedures for obtaining and renewing work permits and for recognising TCNs’ qualifications; poor knowledge by managers about handling workplace diversity and intercultural issues, abuse of employers’ leverage powers as regards wages and other conditions of employment, linguistic problems, overlapping and poorly defined political responsibilities for integration, lack of cooperation between institutional stakeholders and pervasive discrimination against foreigners in relation to utility rates and other areas of social life.