The possibility of early retirement schemes for Enemalta employees was never discussed with the General Workers’ Union, according to its section secretary.
The GWU objected to such schemes, said section secretary Jason Deguara, stressing that early retirement schemes for the cash-strapped corporation was never brought up.
Most workers do not feel satisfied with the information given
“In principle we are against early retirement schemes because we want to see all workers who can still contribute to the economy continue to do so rather than take a lump sum and stay at home,” Mr Deguara said.
Mr Deguara and GWU general secretary Tony Zarb were at a meeting with Enemalta staff, Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and chairman Charles Mangion on Friday.
During the meeting, the employees were given details about the company’s dire financial situation and the deal with Shanghai Electric, the Chinese company which is expected to pay off some €200 million of the company’s €840 million debt and acquire a minority shareholding in Enemalta.
Following the meeting, Mr Mizzi told journalists he was not excluding the possibility of early retirement schemes to reduce the workforce, presently numbering close to 1,600.
He said such schemes would only be issued at the workers’ request and if so, could be taken up on a voluntary basis.
Mr Deguara said: “If employees, on a voluntary basis, come to us and say they wanted such schemes, we will start negotiations.
“In principle, we are against such schemes. I do not know of any union which agrees with them.”
Mr Mizzi told journalists the Government did not want Enemalta to suffer the same fate as the drydocks or Air Malta. The two companies had their workforce reduced through early retirement schemes.
Enemalta employees, who spoke to The Sunday Times of Malta on condition of anonymity, said the tension at Friday’s meeting was palpable.
“We remained quiet and did not ask any questions because we do not want to be the first ones to be shown the front door.
“But we have many questions that remained unanswered, especially about our working conditions which we do not want to see changed in any way,” one worker said.
“Will we still receive shift allowances, which currently increases our take-home pay by €2,000 to €2,500 a year? Will our working hours change?
“All we were told was that we have to change our work practices – but what does this mean in real terms?” he asked.
Another employee said workers were given details about the Chinese company willing to invest and that it had almost $574 billion in assets.
“Most workers do not feel satisfied with the information given. We were given no guarantee that our conditions won’t change or that we will remain Enemalta employees,” a third worker said.
mxuereb@timesofmalta.com