Labour’s executive secretary Lydia Abela has been appointed secretary of the Cooperatives Board for two years, an Economy Ministry official confirmed.

The board acts as the Government’s advisor on matters related to the development of cooperatives and falls under the remit of Economy Minister Chris Cardona.

The brief of the six members on the board is to promote the establishment of cooperative societies in all sectors of the economy and to help them become more efficient.

Dr Abela is not the only board member with close associations to the governing Labour Party.

Chaired by Frances Mifsud, the current board also includes Rita Law and Lorna Vassallo – who both contested the last election on the Labour ticket – and Joe Abela, a former Labour MP.

Former members of the party executive were also given government jobs a few weeks after Labour’s success at the polls.

Jason Micallef, who still occupies the post of chairman of Labour’s TV station, was appointed chairman of the Valletta 18 Foundation, tasked with the organisation of activities related to Malta’s six-month role as the EU’s capital of culture in 2018.

Jimmy Magro, the PL’s general secretary between 1991 and 2003, was recently appointed chairman of a newly formed company within Malta Enterprise known as Major Project Co-ordinating Agency. The new company is entrusted with the coordination of the development of a Life Sciences Park in San Ġwann financed mainly through EU funds.

Questions sent to Malta Enterprise asking for details on the new company, Mr Magro’s role, the selection process and his financial remuneration remained unanswered.

Mr Magro has also been appointed to serve as a board member of the Water Services Corporation by Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi.