Payzone: a cooperative success story

The Payzone Cooperative has proven to be so successful that its 25 members have decided to terminate their employment with Maltacom and go their own way seven months ahead of schedule.

The cooperative, which is in charge of the installation and maintenance of phone boxes, was set up in November 2000 by Maltacom employees who took the risk of taking a few years` unpaid leave to give the cooperative a shot.

Today, Payzone has over 1,800 card phones, 850 of which are scattered across the streets of Malta and Gozo, said its chairman Alfred Scicluna.

"Payzone`s success is the fruit of the cooperation that exists between us and Maltacom," Mr Scicluna said.

The cooperative also issues new telecards and an agreement has been signed binding the cooperative to handle the installation and maintenance of webphones when Maltacom introduces this service in future.

Mr Scicluna was speaking during the recent signing of the official agreement attended by Maltacom chairman Maurice Zarb Adami, Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami, Social Policy Minister Lawrence Gonzi, Economics Services Minister Josef Bonnici and Cooperatives` Board chairman Godfrey Baldacchino, among others.