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Maltacom
not planning any layoffs
by Franco Aloisio
In its restructuring programme, Maltacom plc is not contemplating
any layoffs at present except those covered by the early retirement
scheme, the company’s chairman Maurice Zarb Adami told
The Malta Business Weekly.
Over the last years, talk of possible layoffs in Maltacom has
been rife, especially in view of the liberalisation of the telecommunications
sector. This process has already started especially since the
passing of the new Telecommunications Bill.
Mr Zarb Adami said there are no plans to drastically reduce
Maltacom’s workforce. However a number of the company’s
departments and workshops – such as Maltacom’s own
construction unit – have already been closed down, and
the workers have been transferred to other “productive”
units. At present, Maltacom employs around 1,400 people.
A retraining programme for Maltacom’s workers has already
commenced. In fact, around 60 workers have already been retrained
in new areas and have been channelled to other businesses within
the company. For instance, a number of mechanics who used to
work in Maltacom’s garages have now been employed by Datatrak,
a company partly owned by Maltacom which specialises in the
provision of security products and services for vehicles and
property.
Well before the Telecommunications Bill was published, Maltacom
had already established a number of new companies, such as Mobisle
Communications that will launch the Go Mobile service, which
will diversify Maltacom’s operations. Two weeks ago, The
Malta Independent on Sunday reported that Maltacom is planning
to move into TV transmission and satellite
TV. Maltacom has already carried
a number of trials in order to test television transmissions
through internet.
Maltacom is also involved in other sectors of the telecommunications
sector such as internet – by means of ISPs such as Terranet
– and in data services, through its subsidiary DataStream.
However, Maltacom is claiming that despite its diversification
drive, it has no intention to renounce its core business of
fixed telephony, despite the declared intention of Melita Cable
to enter this field.
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