More than 40 customer care workers employed on monthly contracts by the utility billing company ARMS will over the coming months join the company on a full-time basis.
The decision was announced by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi after visiting the company's head office in Blata l-Bajda.
He said the move was part of the government's drive to curb precarious employment. The 40 employees are currently employed through a private contractor and paid €4.50 per hour.
Dr Mizzi said that after holding talks with the General Workers Union and the contractor, it was decided that employees would be given a six-month contract by the contractor, and from May their wage would go up to €6.50 per hour.
When the six months are up the government intends to have the employees engaged by the State company.
Dr Mizzi said ARMS would shortly be opening a billing office in Valletta and later on open branches in different localities to reach out to the people.
Asked about the smart meter amnesty, which ends today, Dr Mizzi was not in a position to reveal the number of customers who came forward admitting their meter was tempered with. Until last week some 400 had admitted wrongdoing and provided information about the Enemalta officials who had approached them with tempered smart meters.
He said that bills issued to those who stole electricity since the government decided to waive criminal proceedings totalled €10 million.
Dr Mizzi said the full force of the law would be applied on cheating consumers who did not make use of the amnesty.
He insisted the government would be drastically increasing the fines for electricity theft.
When asked about the future of Enemalta workers as a result of the Chinese investment and the development of a new power station by Electrogas, Dr Mizzi reiterated that all jobs will be guaranteed. He said that work conditions as outlined in the collective agreement would be respected. Workers would be given an option to be seconded with Electrogas or Shanghai Electric to work in the BWSC plant, which would be run by the Chinese.
Dr Mizzi said seconded workers would remain on Enemalta's books.