The migrants caught in Malta's labour trap

At the southern tip of Europe, a sunny Mediterranean island has become a key destination for South Asian migrants. Addressing labour shortages, migrants from India, followed by others from South Asian countries such as Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh, arrive with dreams of achieving economic stability and supporting their families. They leave behind a region marked by extreme income inequality and high levels of unemployment in pursuit of a better future.

In Malta, however, they face significant challenges, including human trafficking, workplace exploitation, discrimination in the housing market and daily encounters with racism as they strive to build a new life.

A Maltese restaurant owner was arrested on 24 July and sentenced to two years in prison for human trafficking, having lured South Asian migrants across continents with promises of jobs that didn’t exist. In recent months, another reportedly fraudulent agent made headlines for scamming hundreds of Indian migrants, but after skipping bail, he remains at large, continuing his jobs-for-fees scheme in Georgia.

The are two instances where scammers and traffickers were finally brought to justice, with their exploits making headlines. However, for many migrants, justice remains elusive, leaving them feeling helpless in the face of exploitation and abuse.

"I came here because there is no source of sustainable income at home [India]," Krishna, a hospitality worker from the South Indian city of Hyderabad who has been living in Malta for two years, told FairPlanet. "Even when I did manage to earn a living, it was as a daily wage labourer, living hand to mouth, and at any moment I risked being on the streets."   

In the post-pandemic era, more than 25,000 South Asian migrants in Malta are considered top "third-country nationals" (TCNs) - people with non-EU citizenship. Many work in sectors such as hospitality, construction and delivery. They have been flocking to Malta due to its open work permit system.

However, agencies have been exploiting the system, arranging labour under false pretenses in what some describe as a modern-day-slavery scheme. There are increasing reports of agencies acting as fronts for scammers and traffickers.

Mahesh Devaruppula, an Indian IT worker in Malta, has joined forces with Patricia Graham, an Irish homemaker and citizen activist. Together, they have volunteered their time to gather testimonies, fight court cases and advocate on behalf of non-European migrant workers in Malta after encountering various scams on social media platforms like the Expats Malta group.

"There are many scams related to jobs in Malta," they told FairPlanet. It often starts in India, they explained, where an agent in cities like Hyderabad or Bengaluru advertises jobs in Malta. They promise an income in lakhs (hundreds of thousands) while asking for an 'investment' or 'donation' ranging from 5,000 to 7,000 euros.

"This is claimed to be an all-inclusive price for a new job and life in Malta," they said, but many later discover that things are not as promised.

"My agent duped me," recalled Krishna. 

He continued, "I have been jumping jobs between odd hospitality shifts and delivery services just to ensure I am able to pay back the loan of 3,900 euros I took to pay my agent in the hope of a stable income. I am in a bad cycle. Most extra jobs I have taken up are below minimum wage, and the cost of living is exorbitant here."

He is officially registered as an employee of a restaurant, which he claims is working in collusion with his agent. "They provide falsified payslips, expect the workers to pay social security and taxes, but in reality are paying us sub-par wages. We are threatened with being fired if we speak up," he said.

Workforce agencies registered in Malta often act as proxy employers. In many cases, they have used employment letters provided by their clients to issue visas for a higher number of people than actually required.

"This is just one type of scam that occurs," Mahesh and Patricia explained. "After arriving here, the scams take many forms, from not officially registering jobs to pre-negotiating with landlords and charging high rents… the list goes on."

Another area of exploitation and trafficking has emerged through 'fleets' management in delivery services. This system allows individuals to subcontract delivery services at extremely low wages, with some workers reportedly earning as little as 3 euros an hour - well below the Maltese minimum wage of 5.34 Euros per hour. A recent strike by Bolt drivers on the island highlighted the challenges they face while working for platforms like Bolt.

Government officials seem to have taken note of the situation, and temporarily banned fleet services, but migrants like Krishna do not feel reassured.

"This is only making things worse; people who have already paid for these jobs and are here are even more vulnerable and have nowhere to turn," he said, noting that reports of mass permit refusals are already emerging just a day after the ban, leaving migrants in limbo.

Bureaucratic hurdles, increased racism

This year, visa processes are taking longer, permit fees have increased, and a newly introduced hospitality skills card - a certificate issued upon assessment for non-EU migrants - now serves as "proof" of their qualifications. As a result, people are afraid to question their agents, fearing they might lose their permits and become 'illegal.'

Quitting the job isn’t a realistic option without a solid alternative, as it leaves TCNs with only 10 days to look for another job - something virtually impossible without the help of agents.

For Krishna, obtaining the skills card isn't an immediate concern, but he shared that it will become necessary when he renews his residence permit in a few months. The thought already makes him anxious. "The hospitality skills card may be well-intended, but we are already hearing of long waiting lists and instances of having to pay bribes to expedite the process," he said.

With the sharp increase in foreigners on the island, the Maltese government has prioritised reducing the TCN workforce. At the same time, racist incidents against migrant workers from South Asia, such as abusive attacks on bus drivers, have been on the rise. There is also a growing number of reports of criminalisation of individuals who are already facing these challenges.

When asked about the workplace exploitation of South Asians and whether any measures were being implemented to address these issues, Identita Malta, the government agency responsible for residency and identity services, did not directly respond to FairPlanet's requests for comment.

A wave of anti-immigrant sentiment is currently sweeping across the EU, with various systemic issues finding a common scapegoat: the "outsider." Krishna, reflecting on this, expressed a hope to be recognised for his labour and dignity as a human being.

"We are doing jobs Maltese and EU nationals refuse to do. We are not asking for much. We just want to be extended the right to a decent life."

Image by Jay Bhadreshwara.