An industrial tribunal ordered Enemalta Corporation to pay €70,300 to five of its employees who suffered discrimination when other workers doing the same job were paid more.

The tribunal found that five of seven employees in one of its departments were being paid less than the other two even though they were carrying out the same work and had the same responsibilities.

The five workers were Glenn Spiteri, Terry Debono, Christopher Attard, Michael Woods and Peter Paul Calleja. The tribunal, presided over by Leslie Cuschieri, heard that the five complainants were plant operators and the other two who were technical officers, a grade similar to senior plant operators, although they carried out the same work and had the same responsibilities.

Power station manager and chief engineer Edwin Gauci testified that the two technical officers worked when the energy plant was still using coal. After the changeover to heavy fuel oil, they joined the plant operators but kept their previous designation and salaries.

On March 4, 2013, a few days prior to the last general election, when the case was already being heard by the tribunal, the five workers were promoted to positions of senior plant operators. Mr Woods had been appointed storekeeper in February of that year for medical reasons.

The five complainants submitted that they had received a lower salary and also lost premium allowances between 2008 and 2013.

The tribunal heard that Enemalta continued to aggravate the situation when it promoted the two workers in 2011 and increased their salaries.

The tribunal therefore ordered Enemalta to pay Mr Spiteri €14,291; Mr Debono €13,853; Mr Attard €13,854; Mr Woods €13,397 and Mr Calleja €14,975.

Lawyer Robert Abela appeared for the workers.