Supply Workers Crisis Lies Solely on the GSLP/Liberal’s Door

Lawrence Llamas MP said today “According to answers given by the Government itself, 99% of supply workers in the public sector have been engaged under the GSLP/Liberal administration. Earlier this week, the Chief Minister attempted to spin his way out of the supply workers crisis by once again attempting to shift the blame on to the GSD by claiming there were more supply workers under the GSD than the GSLP/Liberals employ today. Unfortunately for Mr Picardo and his administration, the whole of Gibraltar can see right through the smoke and mirrors.

Gibraltar needs clarity, honesty and leadership from their politicians, especially at a time like this! We simply cannot afford this attitude of blame shifting and childishness. We need, and should have nothing less than full transparency with regards the state of our economy and its worker, together with detailed explanations for each issue of concern.

Success has many owners, but failure is always an orphan and this attitude is simply unsustainable, we must be mature enough to embrace both sides of the equation. We acknowledge that the GSLP/Liberals permanently employed school lunch supervisors and teachers covering vacancies and committed to providing cover for long term sick and maternity leave in the wider civil service as well as expanded domiciliary care. The issue however is that labour is being provided in a way that produces systematic erosion of workers rights in various ways and agency companies are benefiting at the taxpayer’s expense. There are practices that need to be addressed and this is what the Unions have been highlighting also.

When answering a question in Parliament from February last year, 99% of the “current” supply workforce have been engaged under this Government, there is no one else to blame. It is therefore right that the Government should step up and be held accountable for the situation spiralled out of control under their watch despite their so called “time for change slogan”. It is time to take heed of the people’s wishes instead of dwelling in the past. The GSD is committed to change and has already announced a supply worker policy, it is time the Government did too.”

16th January 2019

Questioner: The Hon L F Llamas
Can the Government provide a schedule as at the 8​th ​January 2018 relating to supply workers within the Civil Service, Government owned companies and agencies detailing: (a) the department/company/agency the worker is providing services for; (b) the grade/position the supply worker is covering; (c) the reasons for which the cover is required; (d) since when the supply worker has been providing services to the civil service/agency/company?

Answer: The Minister for Economic Development, Telecommunications and the GSB (Hon. Sir J J Bossano)

On 8th January 2018, supply workers were placed as follows: (a) Care Agency; Department of Education; Gibraltar Bus Company; Gibraltar Electricity Authority; Gibraltar Health Authority; Gibraltar SLA; Ministry of Youth and Postal Services, Gibraltar Joinery and Building Services; EDEC; and GCP.

(b) Nature of the work was: Care Worker; Qualified Teachers; SNLSA; Music Instructor; Technicians; Cleaners; Drivers; Administrative Work; Nursing Assistant; RGN; Enrolled Nurse, Midwife; Domestic; Lifeguard; Youth and Community Support Worker’ Postal Work; supply labour; and Messenger.

(c) The main reason for providing cover either is to meet an increased workload or to provide cover for reduced numbers at work due to absenteeism, or posts temporarily unfilled due to temporary promotion or pending a decision on the required activity. (d) The first date of relief cover that was provided by any given worker was as follows:

Mr Speaker, in the case of the figure for 8th January, which is the last figure I have given, that is the number that was employed at that date but this is a group of workers of which we have no information as to whether they had, previously to that date, done supply work.