Gozo Minister Anton Refalo this evening welcomed a decision by RS2 Software Plc to invest €1 million in a branch in Gozo.
Speaking at a discussion meeting, the minister said the firm expected to employ 50 over three years and a maximum of 100 workers by 2020.
RS2 is involved in the management of cash cards and related services worldwide. It already employs 120 workers in Malta.
The minister also announced that the unemployed in Gozo would be invited to participate in a “Greener and Cleaner Gozo” initiative. They would have two options – a five month engagement with the ministry on cleaning services of up to 20 hours weekly at €75 weekly, or five months at 40 hours weekly for €145 weekly.
Held in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the Employment and Training Corporation, the scheme will see unemployed people clean public spaces and beaches.
The minister said the government was also offering a grant of €1,000 for those unemployed who wished to become self-employed.
He underlined his ministry’s efforts to attract visitors to Gozo during winter and the shoulder months and announced that Gateway School of English would be marketing Gozo internationally offering services for the over 50s in Gozo.
Answering questions from the audience Dr Refalo said Gozo had been at risk of lose out on €12 million EU funds for the Cittadella restoration project because of the negligence of the former government. However, the project resumed as soon as Labour was elected to government, and these funds will not be lost.
He also noted that a place for a National Statistics Office in Gozo has been earmarked, and this branch will be up and running in the next two months.
Answering questions about the Ghajnsielem home for the elderly, he said the situation was dreadful, where elderly couples were separated and placed in different words.
This was not acceptable, Dr Refalo said, so the government signed an agreement with the Gozo Church in May through which the St Joseph Home in Ghajnsielem will be be rented out for use as an old people's home for 140 people.
Permits will be issued by the planning authority this May, and the government will then issue tenders for a public private-public partnership.