I refer to the article ‘GWU will earn €8.5m from government jobless scheme’ (The Sunday Times of Malta, November 27).

The article is misleading and unfair vis-à-vis Jobsplus and the GWU. Jobsplus supplied the author of the article with all the contract documents pertaining to the Community Work Scheme under a Freedom of Information Request. The journalist should know better that the ‘profit’ is by far less than the mentioned €3,000.

The author of the article is conspicuously omitting the employers’ social security contributions and the mandatory bonus paid to employees, which in all amount to almost €1,400. The article does not mention either that the rate is fixed for five years or that the employer must absorb the annual cost-of-living adjustment. In addition, no consideration is given to the management and overheads incurred in the management of such initiative.

Thanks to this initiative, 600 individuals who were doing 30 hours of work a week while remaining on benefits, hence not benefitting from any employment related benefits, now have their position regularised.

Between 2009 and 2015, individuals participating in the former Community Work Scheme received only 75 per cent of the minimum wage without benefitting from any leave or sick leave.

It is worth pointing out that the offer submitted by the GWU was the most competitive at €980 per month per employee. The highest offer received was 20 per cent higher than the cheapest offer. The tender stipulated that the prospective employer should pay all workers the minimum wage.

Jobsplus tenders are awarded according to public procurement procedures. In the past years a number of social partners including trade unions have been awarded contracts following their successful bidding.