96 community workers deployed

There are 96 community workers in the scheme that officially got under way on July 31, 2009, and deployed its first workers in the middle of August 2009. They had all been registering as unemployed for more than five years.

Answering a parliamentary question by Labour MP Stefan Buontempo, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the original number of 100 had been distributed to all local councils in Malta and Gozo. On a cautionary note he pointed out that the Community Workers Scheme was still a pilot project.

Dr Gonzi said the workers' wages were paid by the government, which intended to continue helping local councils with human resources as far as possible.