The Government must be “commended” for taking strong action against temping agencies that exploit workers for their own gain, but any measures must be “carefully crafted” to avoid blowback effects on the Maltese economy, which has become dependent on foreign labour, according to Omar Vella.

Speaking to WhosWho.mt in his first interview as President of the Malta Institute of Management, a position he was appointed to on Monday, Mr Vella says that “these abuses have been known about and tolerated for too long – regularising their position is obviously a must.”

However, he warns against an overzealous approach that leads to “draconian measures” that affect the supply of labour.

“We must not forget that the main lubricant of Malta’s economy is the foreign worker population, primarily Third Country Nationals. The economy is dependent on them, so while abuses must be curbed, the drafting of the new regulations should bear in mind that the country’s economy will be brought to a standstill without these migrant workers.”

Mr Vella is speaking a day after Prime Minister Robert Abela made fiery remarks against the abuse foreign workers are subject to by unethical recruitment firms that see them as resources to be exploited rather than human beings.

"Our socialist blood will ensure a strong stand against the exploitation of people, irrespective of their race,” Dr Abela said, using language that hearkens back to the Labour Party’s working class origins.

"Once workers make it to Malta in a regular manner, they need to be treated with dignity like every other human being."

The Prime Minister announced that draft regulations to bring the sector to heel will be discussed next week. He said that once the new rules are passed into law, recruitment firms and temping agencies that do not immediately regularise their operations will be forced to shut down.

Mr Vella however points out that the brain drain of local talent out of the country has needed to be replaced by foreign workers who are now “critical” to the Maltese economy.

Referring to a statement made by the MIM back in January, when he served as its secretary, he says that time has proven the organisation right in its identification of the key challenges related to human resources.

“The writing was on the wall. Government is now pushing for the upskilling and reskilling of the Maltese workforce, but much more needs to be done.”

Mr Vella believes that the MIM will play a critical role in overcoming these national challenges.

“Malta’s economic vision for the next 10 year depends on people – particularly managers – to bring it to fruition.”

The MIM, which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next year, also saw outgoing President Hector Spiteri being appointed Vice President. Lara Boffa has been appointed Honorary Secretary and Edward Hector Spiteri has been appointed Treasurer.