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by Anna Maria Bartolo
Social problems are among the greatest time wasters according to an internal survey conducted last year by the General Workers' Union.
The survey, directed at union representatives, asked which problems were the greatest time wasters. Over 36 per cent of respondents said "social problems".
The results of the survey were presented by GWU international and education secretary general Michael Parnis yesterday at the end of a seminar on Human Resources Management held at the Jerma Palace Hotel in Marsascala.
The seminar entitled Nahdmu Flimkien was organised by the Reggie Miller Foundation of the GWU in collaboration with the Foundation for Human Resources Development and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung which is the German foundation for workers' education.
Mr Parnis said the results of the survey revealed the existence of many problems which often did not receive publicity. He said the GWU was dealing with these problems and had recently embarked on a vast training programme for its representatives in various sectors.
"In just one year, we saw an attendance of around 2,000 people for the educational activities organised by the Reggie Miller Foundation," he said.
He said this year's programme was wider and involved more commitment while its main aim had not changed.
"The aim is still that of training our representatives. However, this year's programme will be more open and we are organising educational activities for everyone including the management of several firms," he remarked.
He said the programme would now also cater for the unemployed, thus helping them prepare for the working world and making it easier for them to find work.
Within the coming days, the union will hold internal discussions to update its policies on several subjects including human resources, he said, adding that the union's written policy on these subjects would be ready in a few months' time. He highlighted the difference between Human Resources Management and Human Resources Development. HRM is a managerial structure targeting the needs of the company which includes planning, control and monitoring of workers.
HRD puts more emphasis on the development of the human being through life-long learning and participation in the running of the company.
"HRD should produce more motivated and competent employees who boost the company's efficiency and competitivity," he said.
He insisted on the importance of humanising HRM and said this could only happen through HRD and the direct participation of the workers.
"HRD helps create an environment where each employee feels respected and accepted," he said.
Although most company owners who employed workers represented by the GWU did collaborate with the union, there were still cases where workers were threatened with unemployment when they joined a trade union, he said.
He mentioned some abuses committed by employers and said there were still workers receiving less than the minimum wage. Some women were paid less than men, others were not granted leave or paid overtime and risked unemployment if they took sick leave, he said.
The government, employers and unions must unite and avoid unnecessary confrontation, he said. He remarked that the GWU was recently the target of various gibes and he said he hoped there was no hidden agenda.
He also spoke about European Union membership and maintained that the subject had to receive priority on the country's agenda.
"It is useless projecting the subject in a good light and then forgetting to keep one's promises," he added.
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