Enemalta’s new human resources manager Roberto Cristiano.

A decision by the new human resources manager at Enemalta Corporation to eliminate teleworking did not go down well with employees and was retracted within hours, Times of Malta has learnt.

Workers received an e-mail from the HR Department on Thursday informing them that teleworkers were expected to work a minimum of five hours a day from the office. Those who worked on reduced hours should do the equivalent on a pro rata basis.

In the e-mail, seen by Times of Malta, workers were told that all teleworkers had to be in the office daily during the core working hours, between 9am and noon, in line with the revised teleworking policy.

“Such policy amendment was felt necessary based on the exigencies of the corporation,” it said.

Employees who opted for full days of telework were “kindly asked to review their requested schedule”.

Sources said the decision was taken by human resources and industrial relations manager Roberto Cristiano, present mayor of Gżira and formerly the manufacturing section secretary of the General Workers’ Union.

The matter caused a furore among about 50 affected workers out of the corporation’s 1,500 employees.

Many had been teleworking for the last five years due to family commitments.

They complained that such a decision went against established government policy.

Prior to the last general election, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat spoke at length about the implementation of further family-friendly measures, especially in government departments. He said schemes such as flexitime, job-sharing, reduced hours and teleworking were to be enhanced.

The General Workers’ Union’s section secretary responsible for Enemalta, Jason Deguara, confirmed the decision had been taken but was retracted within hours, following the union’s intervention.

He said he had contacted Mr Cristiano who, he added, admitted the decision could have been “hasty” and that he had no problem retracting it to start discussions with the union.

Early yesterday morning, the employees received another e-mail informing them that the contents of the previous message were “on hold”.

However, Mr Deguara said the new instructions had been “retracted”.

Efforts to contact Mr Cristiano were unsuccessful and questions sent to Enemalta remained unanswered at the time of writing.