Parliament will debate the transfer of the Cospicua ship repair facilities to the new Italian owners on Friday, government sources have confirmed.

The transfer to Palumbo Spa will be concluded after Parliament approves the deal negotiated by government. However, this has not stopped the company from advertising vacancies in recent days.

The Sunday Times is informed that many former Malta Shipyards workers who took the early retirement schemes have applied.

A spokesman for 3M Shipping, which represents Palumbo in Malta, said the Italian company was not in a position to comment until the deal carries Parliament's official stamp.

It is not known how many people the company will employ although the Finance Minister had said in March the indications were that it would initially engage between 200 and 250 workers.

The Cospicua shipyard was sold for €90.6 million on a 30-year concession. Palumbo will be paying €18 million upfront followed by €72.6 million in rent over 30 years.

Palumbo were not obliged by Parliament to give assurances over staff numbers because the company wanted to start operations with a clean slate. It is, however, obliged to give all former shipyard workers the right to be interviewed for a job.

Job adverts by Palumbo Malta Shipyard Ltd have appeared in the press without specifying particular posts. The address quoted in the advert is that of the company's Maltese representatives headquartered at Number 5, Sqaq Stagno, Qormi.