Malta

Organization responsible for the statistics

The statistics are collected, compiled and published by the Department of Labour and Emigration.

Objectives and users

Not available.

Coverage

Strikes and lockouts

The published information relates to work stoppages only.

Unofficial strikes and political or protest strikes are not included.

Minimum threshold None.

Economic activities

No particular branches of economic activity or sectors are excluded.

Workers

Workers directly involved only. As well as regular paid employees, the statistics cover temporary, casual and seasonal workers. If part-time workers are regularly employed, they are also included. Workers laid off and workers absent on sick or annual leave or absent for any other reason are not included.

No particular occupational groups are excluded.

Geogrpahic areas

Whole country.

Types of data collected

Only the number of strikes and lockouts and the number of days not worked are published.

Concepts and definitions

Work stoppage

Any stoppage of work connected with a trade dispute as defined in section 2 of the Industrial Relations Act 1976. Industrial action as envisaged in the Industrial Relations Act 1976 can be taken by an employer, an association of employers or a trade union.

Industrial stoppage

All types of action, including bans on overtime and go-slows which are not actual stoppages. Information is collected regarding all types of industrial action.

Methods of measurement

Strikes and lockouts

The basic unit of measurement used to record a strike or lockout is the case of dispute and the economic unit. The resumption of a strike or lockout that is interrupted but later recommences, still due to the same case of dispute, is regarded as a new strike or lockout.

Work stoppages due to the same case of dispute, occurring simultaneously in different establishments of the same enterprise, are counted as one strike or lockout. Those occurring at different times in different establishments of the same enterprise are counted as one strike or lockout if the action is due to the same case of dispute. Action caused by different disputes are counted as separate strikes or lockouts.

Workers involved

The number of workers involved is the average of the number of daily absences during the strike or lockout.

Duration

The duration is measured in workdays from the date the strike or lockout began in the first economic unit involved to the date it terminated in the last one.

Time not worked

Total time not worked, measured in workdays, is the product of the number of workers involved and the duration. If the stoppage lasts less than one day, the number of days not worked is calculated on the basis of eight workhours per workday. Overtime is not taken into account.

Classifications

Branch of economic activity

The statistics are classified according to the main branches of economic activity.

Reference period and periodicity

The statistics are compiled for periods of one year. Information on the number of strikes and lockouts and the number of days not worked is published for periods of one year. The data relate to strikes and lockouts beginning during the particular reference period plus those continuing from the previous period.

Analytical measures

None.

Historical background of the series

Not available.

Documentation

Series available

Not available.

Bibliographic references

Department of Labour and Emigration: Annual Report (annual).

Data published by the ILO

The number of strikes and lockouts, the number of workers involved, the number of days not worked and rates of days not worked, by economic activity.

Confidentiality

Not available.

International standards

Not available.

Methods of data collection

There is no legal obligation to report the occurrence of a strike or lockout. The Department of Labour and Emigration monitors trade disputes which may give rise to industrial action. Direct enquiries are also made following reports appearing in the media.