A Wasteserv contractor who had been heavily criticised by the Labour Party before the election has been retained for another term, the Times of Malta has learnt.

JF Services, which recruited waste sorters for Wasteserv, had its contract renewed despite Labour’s criticism both before and just after the March 2013 election.

The Environment Ministry confirmed that the contractor responsible for recruitment had not changed but insisted the contract was renegotiated.

“JF Services Ltd had its contract renegotiated following a call for tenders. The contract is for one year, extendable for three,” the ministry said.

It insisted that the contract conditions had been revised, “resulting in substantial savings for Wasteserv and better working conditions for employees”.

Both issues had been hotly contested by Labour in Opposition. The contract the Nationalist administration had signed with JF Services Ltd in 2011 had been harshly criticised by the Opposition.

Then Labour environment spokesman Leo Brincat, who is today the minister responsible for Wasteserv, had even demanded the resignation of former resources minister George Pullicino over the matter. His criticism continued for some time after he was appointed minister in 2013.

Ministry insisted the contract was renegotiated

Speaking in Parliament in July 2103, following an independent report he had commissioned on the running of Wasteserv, Mr Brincat had criticised the contract with JF Services saying it was as if the private company was running the government agency itself.

Stating that “millions of euros were paid to JF Services in commissions”, Mr Brincat had said the company was being used by the previous administration to recruit staff at the government agency. Between January 2012 and March 2013, about 108 people had been recruited by Wasteserv, mainly through JF Services, he had said.

The ministry has confirmed that 17 waste sorters were recently recruited through JF Services on six-month contracts.

It justified the employment on the basis of a new recycling plant set to open at Magħtab and another facility in Marsa.

“A number of new employees are required for the two plants and they need training.

“The company [Wasteserv] is also experiencing increases in the amount of recyclables received every year over previous years, which also require manpower,” the ministry said.

ivan.camilleri@timesofmalta.com