All general practitioners (GPs) recently employed at St Vincent De Paul’s residence have been appointed in accordance to collective agreement, the government said.

Replying to questions sent by this newsroom following claims it received, a spokesperson for the Secretariat of Rights or Persons with Disability and Active Ageing said that all positions and grades in the public sector are regulated by public service management regulations and collective agreements, and St Vincent De Paul’s residence is no exception.

A few days ago, a source told this newsroom that a number of GPs are being employed to work at the residence with work and pay conditions substantially better than those of the resident senior medical officers; however the government has dismissed the claims. The source added that the administrative staff is divided on the issue, and the Medical Association Malta (MAM) are aware of it but trying to cover it up.

The allegations however, were rejected by Martin Balzan, President of MAM, who said that all new employees have been employed according to collective agreements.

St Vincent De Paul’s residence is set to be rebranded, and is currently undergoing extensive refurbishing works. Employees are undergoing training programmes as new services will be introduced. A few weeks ago, parliamentary secretary Justyne Caruana said that changes will be induced as to the way new residents are admitted, and the facility will only accept highly dependent persons while others who are not so dependent will be channelled elsewhere.

Recruitment in the Malta Public Service is regulated by Chapter 10 of the Constitution of Malta.  ‘Appointments are made either to grades or to positions on contract in the various Ministries and Departments constituting the Service through competitive selection exercises. All grades are grouped in twenty salary scales and emerge from a number of Classification Agreements which constitute career streams, the majority of which were negotiated with trade unions. These are supplemented by ad hoc positions on a definite contract which are created according to the exigencies of the Service.’