'No us and them, only us': activists demand equality for migrants

The streets of Valletta rang with the sounds of whistles and banging of drums on Saturday morning, as human rights activists gathered to protest what they say are exploitative policies and precarious working conditions for migrant workers. Chanting phrases like “enough is enough” and “there is no us and them, only us”, protestors marched from the Triton fountain through Valletta and stopped at La Valletta square.  The second equality protest held by activists in October was triggered by the story of Jaiteh Lamin, who fell two storeys while working on a construction site in Mellieħa and was unceremoniously dumped on the side of the road in Selmun where passers-by offered him assistance and eventually called the police. Lamin’s former employer, Glen Farrugia, is currently out on bail after being charged with grievous bodily harm over the incident. The protest was backed by ADPD - The Green Party, which said that existing labour policies "make it impossible or difficult for immigrants to work legally and therefore encourages their exploitation." An activist raises a fist to the sky during Saturday's protest in Valletta. Photo: Jonathan Borg Caroline Galea, one of the people who...