40 jobs saved in GWU and NetEnt deal. The General Workers’ Union – Malta (GWU) has secured numerous jobs and successfully negotiated an enhanced severance package for NetEnt gaming company employees who were deemed redundant following Swedish gaming giant Evolution Gaming Group‘s acquisition on NetEnt.
Following talks with the GWU, the Evolution Gaming Company has now decided to provide an alternative job to at least 40 workers in the coming weeks. It is estimated that another 60 employees will be absorbed by gaming and financial services operators in Malta as a testament to the long-term survival of the sector and to the dedication of the GWU to creating quality jobs.
Under the new agreement, the GWU secured an improvement to the severance offer previously negotiated with an employee representative. Each affected employee will receive an additional payment of EUR 750. Other benefits include better safeguards for employees currently on maternity leave and the availability of the company’s health benefit package to affected employees.
GWU members who are affected by these redundancies, occasioned by restructuring in the gaming sector, overwhelmingly approved the revised severance offer.
Negotiations for the GWU were performed by Josef Bugeja (Secretary General), Kevin Camilleri (Deputy Secretary General), Riccarda Darmanin (Section Secretary), with the legal support of Aron Mifsud Bonnici.
GWU Secretary General Josef Bugeja stated that “we negotiated intensely and with determination. We saved jobs to the extent that this was possible. We ensured that all those who are being let go are suitably compensated.” He thanked Evolution CEO Martin Carlsund, and company legal advisor Paul Gonzi for their collaboration in reaching a satisfactory agreement.
The GWU, representing the majority of NetEnt employees in Malta, had earlier filed an application before Malta’s Superior Courts, requesting an injunction to prevent the company from implementing any form of redundancy or from terminating any employment. The First Hall, Civil Court had provisionally accepted the union’s injunction. The GWU today withdrew the court injunction, with the legal and industrial dispute being thus resolved.
[image: Scott Graham]
