Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/835410
PHOTO JAMES BIANCHI Newspaper post SUNDAY • 11 JUNE 2017 • ISSUE 918 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY SUNDAY • 11 JUNE 2017 • ISSUE 918 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY maltatoday Over 1,000 new government jobs in Gozo weeks before election SAVIOUR BALZAN OVER 1,000 Gozitans of voting age were recruited to gov- ernment jobs and similar placements on the island of Gozo just weeks before the June 3 election, leaving many major and small businesses short of staff and unable to operate efficiently. The employment spree hit companies that are mostly in- volved in manufacturing, furniture factories and the con- struction industry, apart from many small enterprises. A sizeable number of new employees joined the Gozo Channel company, which took on just under 150 work- ers, while others included labourers with the government, a number opting for jobs in security, carers and cleaners mainly working with those companies subcontracted by government agencies and departments. In some cases, the staff complement trebled in size. A large number, around 200, joined the General Workers Union's jobs scheme while 180 entered the JobsPlus job schemes, with recruitments to the GWU jobs scheme still ongoing on election day. Some new employees were even asked to start employment on Monday, the day after the election result was announced. Over 100 new employees from the Gozo ministry were stationed at the Cittadella in Victoria. Their attendance was noted by a palm-reader machine, but this was retained after the employees complained about the reader. Eight full-time employees from the Gozo ministry were also based at the Dwejra heritage site. At the same time, a massive promotions drive took place in the civil service, where government employees at grade 18 were promoted to grade 16. This promotion impacted 450 employees. The unprecedented employment spree could have had a significant effect on the startling victory for the Labour party in the 13th district, where a swing of 2% over the 49.1% vote of the 2013 election was registered. Tradition- ally Gozo has always recorded a majority for the Nationalist party. Three Labour MPs were elected from Gozo: the former Gozo minister Anton Refalo, Justyne Caruana, who is now the new Gozo minister, and Clint Camilleri, who is now parliamentary secretary for agriculture and fisheries. MaltaToday is aware of communications from Gozo busi- ness owners who called on the Gozo Business Chamber to protest officially with government ministers. YOUR FIRST READ AND FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY WWW.MALTATODAY.COM.MT THE CALM AFTER THE STORM PN deputy leader Mario de Marco gives his analysis of the PN's defeat in last week's elections ELECTION 2017 The PN lost the battle in the streets MANUEL DELIA PAGES 16-17 12 13 3 gives his analysis of the PN's defeat 12 13 SUNDAY • 11 JUNE 2017 • ISSUE 918 • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY today today • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY today • PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SUNDAY MANUEL DELIA Muscat still won hearts and minds Prof. Paul A. Bartolo on Labour's victory of emotions PAGES 14-15 TO THE VICTOR THE SPOILS Labour returns to the Granaries to celebrate their landslide win PAGE 3 €1.75