PN MP Marthese Portelli took on a workers' stance in parliament this evening while delivering an adjournment speech specifically focusing on employees of the Water Services Corporation who are experiencing a large influx of employees who are seemingly without a particular role. There is also an issue of questionable promotions being given haphazardly for no apparent reason.
The Opposition MP addressed both the Prime Minister, as the WSC falls under his responsibility "on paper" and to No-Portfolio Minister Konrad Mizzi. Dr Portelli said "on paper" because "when you speak to the workers they tell you that when they have a problem they are sent to a certain Abdilla who was and still is Konrad Mizzi's customer care." She also pointed out that "even the motion for the WSC estimates to be discussed was put forward by Konrad Mizzi."
The employees themselves who Dr Portelli met with complained of new employees being hired carelessly; promotions are being granted equally carelessly; nobody can understand how certain people have been given certain positions; nobody can clearly understand the role of a number of people; and finally a number of the new people are barely doing any work while their colleagues pick up the slack.
Dr Portelli then explained that over 180 new employees have been employed by the WSC with employees calling the WSC a "family business" rife with nepotism. The MP also asked, "Are the promotions all justified? Or are they being handed out like cheesecakes?"
Dr Portelli asked whether this is one of the ways that the PL government is reducing unemployment, by merely injecting the WSC with new employees to the detriment of the existing ones. In a series of reiterated and previously unanswered questions to Dr Mizzi, Dr Portelli asked where all the new paycheques are coming from.
She also asked whether this is the reason why engineers have a reduced 'drainage allowance' asking the Minister directly: "You do you agree with how these engineers are being treated? Why haven't you done anything about this decision taken by your people?"
The PN MP also pointed out concerns which the Opposition had last year regarding the role of an Executive Chairman. Dr Portelli reminded the serious doubts about why the Chairman was given the title of Executive Chairman which, at the time, were answered by the government explaining that the decision was made in order to save money by paying one salary rather than one for a Chairperson and another for a Chief Executive Officer.
Dr Portelli said that today, the two roles have become separate once more with the Executive Chairperson at the time being given a position of trust with Projects Malta. This led the MP to the conclusion that "the move wasn't to save money, but to have a cushy job with a good remuneration for the Executive Chairman."
Dr Portelli said that she hopes that "we will not see a replica of what happened with Enemalta where first people were sacked by being politely told to leave and find work elsewhere and now they are hiring people to fill the void left by the people who were sacked or transferred."