Employees of the PN’s printing press are being made redundant and their last day of work will be September 15, when Independence Print – otherwise known as Stamperija – closes after more than 40 years.
The press employs eight people but more lay-offs could be in the pipeline, this newspaper has learnt. A decision on the four employees in the design department is imminent.
The Nationalist Party recently decided to outsource the printing of its newspapers as part of a major restructuring programme of its commercial entities.
In the aftermath of its landslide defeat in the last general election, the party has sunk into a financial crisis, to the point that it is no longer in a position to pay its employees on time.
While some of them have grasped the opportunity to seek greener pastures, others were not so lucky and are struggling to make ends meet.
In an interview with The Sunday Times of Malta, PN general secretary Chris Said said it would be more cost effective for the party to print its newspapers elsewhere.
It is no longer in a position to pay its employees on time
He said that in the short term, the party was aiming to break even on its monthly operations by the end of September. In the longer term the objective is to reduce the millions in debt that have accumulated since 1998, when the party opened its television station.
Though some have described these targets as ambitious, others are insisting that action must be taken quickly to prevent further painful decisions.
Earlier this month a commission headed by former leadership contestant and entrepreneur Raymond Bugeja presented its report with a number of recommendations on the way forward for the sustainability of the PN’s entities.
Among other things the commission suggested the appointment of a CEO to focus on the commercial aspects of the party’s media and its travel agency. However no decision has been taken so far.
The redundancies may mark the first real test for Dr Said, who is well aware of the negative repercussions that these decisions might have on his political future.
Contacted by Times of Malta yesterday, he said the party was in talks with a number of private companies to find alternative jobs for those hit by this cost-cutting exercise.
However, the prospects for success may be slim, considering that the majority of these employees have been working in the party’s press for decades and are fast approaching retirement age.
Sources close to the party said the administration was likely to face bigger tests in future as some felt it should not just be the lower ranks who bear the brunt of restructuring.