A former head of the Employment and Training Corporation who hit the headlines after making a sexist comment was given a government job barely a month after resigning.

The Times of Malta is informed that Education Minister Evarist Bartolo appointed Philip Rizzo chief executive officer of the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Schools. The government agency is tasked with building and refurbishing public schools, projects usually running into millions of euros.

A spokesman for the minister confirmed that Mr Rizzo had been  appointed FTS head just a month after stepping down from the ETC, another entity that falls under Mr Bartolo’s portfolio.

“Mr Rizzo has been appointed CEO of FTS as from April 11,” the spokesman said. “Mr Rizzo was employed on a contract, as a person of trust, for a period of one year.” The spokesman said Mr Rizzo’s remuneration is of €73,980 a year, car expense and telephony.

Mr Rizzo had been appointed FTS head just a month after stepping down from the ETC

No reply was forthcoming when the spokesman was asked whether Mr Rizzo’s appointment followed a public call or whether he had been given the job on the direct recommendation of the minister.

The ETC announced that Mr Rizzo had asked to be relieved of his duties as CEO but no reasons were given.

An accountant with a 40-year career as a business consultant in the private sector, Mr Rizzo earned a remuneration package of over €50,000.

Last August, Mr Bartolo publicly censured Mr Rizzo after he posted a comment on Facebook beneath a swimsuit photo of a newly appointed department head: “This is the only ETC head of division with the three Bs… brains, boobs and balls! She’s a very capable lady.” The minister said that such comments were “certainly out of place for a person occupying such a position”.

Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli also criticised Mr Rizzo and said she was very uncomfortable with his comments towards a female subordinate.

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