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Louis Galea stands firm on PBS overhaul

Minister of Education and Culture Louis Galea is taking a tough stand on the controversial restructuring planned for the Public Broadcasting Services

Parties involved, which include the General Workers’ Union, PBS chairman Anthony Tabone and the government, have already met several times after the Board of Directors of PBS approved the main proposals submitted by the task force for the restructuring of the media company. The task force recently declared that PBS could be run by 90 fulltime employees. No one will be fired from the organisation, but it has been made clear that PBS cannot continue to lose money and that steps need to be taken soon, certainly by the end of the year.

The report has caused great concern among the staff and some have even expressed a lack of trust in the Task Force report.

The task force, which is comprised of Chairman Anthony Tabone, deputy chairman Tony Mallia and Members of the Board, Michael Fenech, Charles Xuereb and Dr Claire Vassallo Thake, worked overtime on the report, which was handed to Dr Louis Galea at the beginning of this month.

The idea is to put the national station in a position so that it can sustain itself and to ensure that modern concepts are introduced enabling it to offer a good service.

It is understood that Dr Galea wants to adopt a similar Kalaxlokk style early retirement scheme, where the over 55s are offered lump sum of money and can register for work.

Insiders told MaltaToday that the General Workers’ Union agreed with the overhaul planned for PBS, but anticipate a negative reply from the workers when they confront them.

The PBS Board also believes that there may be some resistance from the older members of staff to such radical changes. PBS have invested in new equipment, but some of it is not being used workers do not have the necessary know-how.

There are 193 full time workers at PBS, 30 less than in 1993. The average age is 46. There are 35 people who are over 55, 43 who are over 50, 34, over 45, 22 who are over 40 and only 14 who are under 25. Eight of them are under 30.

A total of 33 per cent of the workforce are over 45 years and only seven per cent are under 30.

Are these resources being used effectively?

PBS spends around Lm1.2 million on salaries and receives more than one million liri from TV licences. It spends around Lm1.5 million, annually when one includes overtime. Advertising is enough to provide for wages but not other expenses.

The minister has made it known that he is in favour of the Task Force’s recommendation to close down PBS if the report is not implemented.