WasteServ hires 87 new employees

WasteServ Malta has hired 87 new workers at its Marsascala and Maghtab plants in last couple of weeks, with 17 starting on the job only yesterday, The Malta Independent has learnt.

There have been several reports of state entities and corporations employing people at a time when the general election is just round the corner. In March it was reported that that the Water Services Corporation had hired around 150 fitters, who also live within the same electoral district that Dr Mizzi is contesting.

The Times yesterday reported that the WSC recently employed 18 new individuals who mostly hail from Mizzi’s district. Now this paper has been informed about these electioneve jobs at WasteServ, which falls under the political responsibility of Environment Minister Jose Herrera. A source said there aren’t enough parking spaces for all the workers at the Marsascala plant.

This surge of employment within the public sector comes at a time when there are claims that the Prime Minister and his administration are using the power of incumbency to gain votes. Contacted by the newsroom, WasteServ CEO Tonio Montebello said that a private company which sorted plastics, paper, and aluminium in Malta closed down and this led to a situation where the recycling plant is receiving almost double the amount of material. “We needed more people or else a lot of good material would have been lost.”

The new employees were supplied by JF Services, who supply labour to the plant whenever they require an increase in staff, even if only temporarily. Asked as to why there had been an increase in staff given that the Prime Minister announced that he would close down the Marsascala plant, Mr Montebello clarified that Dr Muscat would be closing the plant down in 7 years, which involved a process and plan for the plant.