Valletta street vendors protest at proposed relocation

As part of the government’s plan to pedestrianise the inner streets of Malta’s capital city of Valletta, about 115 street vendors were notified that they would be relocated. In response, the Union of United Workers, which represents the vendors, refused to accept the government’s arbitrary decision. Moreover, the vendors organised a spontaneous protest march, while refusing to set up their stalls for several days. However, the issue was subsequently resolved.

At present, the Maltese government is in the process of pedestrianising the inner streets of the country’s capital city of Valletta. As a result of these changes, around 115 street vendors were informed that they would have to relocate out of the city until the infrastructural works were completed. The government was also proposing that when the street vendors returned, they would relocate to a block further down from their original location.

Trade union resistance

The Union of United Workers (Union Haddiema Maghqudin, UHM), the trade union representing the Valletta street vendors (MT0610019I), refused to accept the government’s arbitrary decision. Furthermore, UHM officials stated that it was unacceptable that the government offered no justification for proposing to move the market further down from its original site. The union accused the government of denying the street vendors their legitimate right to work. While the city’s Mayor, Paul Borg Olivier, was also informed about this situation, he reportedly stated that he did not have a say on the issue.

Concerns of street vendors

The street vendors were informed about the proposed relocation as a closed deal through a letter issued by the police. The sellers expressed their disappointment with the decision, arguing that the alternative location suggested by the government would undoubtedly reduce their sales and could therefore prove detrimental to their business. Moreover, the street vendors claimed that the proposal to move them outside of the capital during the renovation works could put some of the sellers out of business. A similar move which took place a couple of decades ago had a negative impact on their livelihood. The self-employed street vendors also expressed their concerns about the length of time that it would take for the project to be completed, as they were unsure whether the work would be finished within the timeframe stipulated.

Protest action

On 7 May 2007 – the day on which the Valletta street vendors were due to move – the vendors parked their vans near the city’s entrance and organised a spontaneous protest march against the government’s decision. The partial industrial action consisted of furthers protests and a refusal by the street vendors to set up the market for 12 days. During that time, conciliatory meetings were organised between UHM and the government. The government continued to insist that the sooner the works started, the earlier the market would be able to move to the newly designated and paved site. In addition, the government reminded the street vendors that these decisions were being taken following three years of confrontation with their representatives.

To show its support for the vendors and their families, the General Workers’ Union (GWU) also took part in one of the protests. GWU appealed to the government to resolve the dispute fairly and quickly, allowing the vendors to continue trading so that they could support their families. The union made it clear that its role in society is to help Maltese workers in any way it could, irrespective of whether they are members of GWU. The Leader of the Malta Labour Party (Partit Laburista, MLP), Alfred Sant – representing the main government opposition – together with the MLP’s General Secretary, Jason Micallef, also expressed their solidarity for the street vendors by visiting them in Valletta.

Consensus reached

However, on 18 May, an agreement was reached between the government and UHM. Accordingly, it was decided that the open market vendors would set up their stalls in one of the city’s squares, namely Freedom Square, until the infrastructural works were completed – as the vendors had originally suggested. Furthermore, it was agreed that, once the works were finished, the market would move to the location originally earmarked by the government.

The agreement also stipulated that a committee, made up of government and trade union representatives, would be established to resolve any difficulties posed by the new site, including logistical problems. In addition, the government offered compensation of MTL 10,000 (about €23,275 as at 26 July 2007) to up to 12 street vendors who opted to surrender their licence in Valletta by 31 May 2007.

Christine Farrugia and Manwel Debono, Centre for Labour Studies