EURES collaboration fills scientific skills gap in Malta

Matching jobseekers with employers is just a normal day for Giliane Mallia, Head of EURES Malta’s National Coordination Office.

Giliane recently collaborated with EURES Spain and EURES Italy colleagues to place 10 jobseekers with Maltese pharmaceutical firm Aurobindo. During their search for quality control laboratory technicians, the company was referred to EURES due to “the current labour market shortages in Malta and the lack of such skills in the local labour market,” Giliane says.

Why the shortage? Because Malta has the third lowest unemployment rate in the EU, meaning that many local employers actively recruit from outside the island nation.

Frederick Schembri, Aurobindo’s General Manager, calls EURES “awesome”.

As the company grew, he says, it turned more and more to EU-wide job searches. Today, 30 per cent of the firm’s workforce comes from outside Malta, thanks to EURES.

“[During recruiting] we can target a specific country or audience,” he explains. “This has been to our advantage and the results speak for themselves.”

One of the beneficiaries of Aurobindo’s collaboration with EURES was Tamara Torcellini from Italy. A lover of travel, Tamara was eager to work in another EU country and had been using EURES as one of her main job hunting tools for some time. When she came across the Maltese opportunity, it was a perfect fit.

“I sent my CV for the ‘QC analyst’ position in Malta and immediately received an email from EURES to confirm my application,” she says. “When I finally received the good news from the company that I had been hired, I contacted EURES with some questions about the country and they gave me all the help I needed.”

Providing that additional level of support is what makes EURES far more than just a job-matching service. “We have answered questions about schools, about cars and even about travelling with beloved pets,” Giliane shares. The small EURES Malta team also provides assistance with paperwork and liaises with other offices on job candidates’ behalf.

In the future, Giliane hopes that EURES becomes the first point of contact for any jobseekers interested in working anywhere within the EU. “Our team strives to create a friendly and helpful environment where we can help people not only with moving abroad, but ensuring their transition is as smooth as possible.”

Tamara’s EURES journey suggests that Giliane’s hopes are already being fulfilled. “I’m still in Malta and I’m really enjoying the island, the people and my work,” Tamara says. “This experience is enriching me both personally and professionally. I recommend this to all of you! Everybody should try to work, or study, abroad for a while and EURES offers the perfect opportunity!”

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