Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi insisted this evening that alternative jobs have been made available to all employees of Engineering Resources Ltd, to which all Enemalta employees have been temporarily transferred.

Replying to a parliamentary question by PN Shadow Minister for Energy Marthese Portelli, Dr Mizzi said the government was helping Enemalta employees in a process set up in consultation with trade unions. The government wanted to avoid a repetition of the dockyard saga. 

“We are communicating with all the workers and helping, in any way we can, those who expressed their wish to move on to another job. We have found the right balance to help workers with their individual needs and wishes. We are also trying to match their remuneration packages,” said the Minister. Dr Mizzi said there were more transfer requests than the actual number of transfers required.

Dr Mizzi said workers can also apply to work in other areas of the utilities company, including at the Electrogas and BWSC plants and in distribution, where more workers are needed. “We are identifying which workers want to move to these units voluntarily first.”

Dr Portelli said that, in his reply, the Minsiter had confirmed that the company was making a distinction between workers. She asked him to confirm the existence of a list of alternative jobs, which she has claimed is only in the possession of General Workers Union officials. The PN Shadow Minister has repeatedly stated that not all workers are being offered these alternative jobs.

In reply, the Minister said the government is engaging with all unions: the GWU, which is the sole recognized union at Enemalta, the Professionals Union and the Managers Union. The UHM is not a recognized representative of Enemalta workers, he said, but the government is engaging with it nonetheless, on an individual basis. “The list you mention is nothing more than a list of vacancies within the public sector. It is available at the GWU but also at Enemalta’s HR Department. Anyone can see the list and apply.”  Dr Mizzi said the UHM had requested the list and the government obliged.

Dr Portelli, however, complained that the GWU has had the list for at least three weeks but the UHM has only been given the document in the past few hours. “Why have you waited so long to give the list to the UHM?”

The Energy Minister reiterated that the list of jobs has been accessible to all workers and the UHM is now also in possession of the list.