‘Non-EU, but NOT second class’ – TCN Alliance launched

A new group dedicated to helping third country nationals (TCNs) navigate life in Malta was launched on Monday (today) morning, distributing leaflets with useful information at Identità.

The leaflets include an exhortation to "know your worth" along with important information that can dispel common misconceptions about the work and visa permit system.

These include things like "Not receiving pay slips is not normal, or legal,", and "You are non-EU but NOT second class."

TCNs are individuals who are nationals of countries that are not in the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA).

There has been a large influx of people from such countries over the last decade, during which time the foreign population exploded from just over 20,000 in 2011 (under five per cent) to over 158,000 today (representing just over 28 per cent of the total population).

Of the foreigners living in Malta, a majority are non-EU nationals, with India, the Philippines and Nepal being the most represented nationalities.

The population boom has fuelled Malta’s economic growth and led to a major revitalisation of the rental sector, as locals invested in buy-to-let properties.

It also led to the proliferation of many employment agencies, some of which adopted unethical practices that required prospective workers to pay a large upfront sum to obtain a visa. The Maltese Government has since cracked down on such agencies.

As Malta continues to grapple with the consequences of an economic model that depends on an increasing population to fuel economic growth, many TCNs have suffered from abusive situations – partly caused by a lack of clear information about their rights.

“Our biggest priority right now is to get the facts out there. We want to advise people about the pitfalls and scams they can fall victim to, and make them aware of the very limited free resources available,” said Patricia Graham.

Ms Graham is a known ardent defender of migrant rights and a vociferous campaigner on behalf of TCNs.

“The employment of TCN's is a highly profitable business, and with each new regulation, it seems that another profession finds a way to make money from TCN workers,” she wrote.

The group decided to start its campaign at Identità (better known by its previous name, Identity Malta), “because they are the force responsible for the lack of understanding and the inability to see and hear what is going on in Malta.”

TCN Alliance said it is currently working on developing a website dedicated to empowering TCNs in Malta.

Meanwhile, it can be contacted at admin@tcnalliancemalta.com.