Alleged whistleblower moves to protect his job

An engineer yesterday asked the First Hall of the Civil Court to stop Enemalta from assigning his job to others.

Engineer Kenneth Abela claimed he was employed by the corporation at professional executive level and had been acting manager within the Gas Division for the past 14 months even though he ought to have been appointed to the post on a permanent basis.

Last month, Abela was suspended from work indefinitely on the grounds that he had allegedly passed on information on health and safety to the Occupational Health and Safety Authority.

Three days after his suspension the corporation issued a charge against him. This, Abela claimed, was not in accordance with the collective agreement governing Enemalta.

He said that two weeks ago his suspension was withdrawn but he was ordered to report for work at the loss control unit of the Petroleum Division.

Furthermore, no disciplinary board had been appointed to hear and decide his case. In the meantime, Abela's former post at the Gas Division was to be assigned to another employee, he said, adding that this would cause him to sustain both financial and seniority prejudice.

Abela thus asked the court to stop Enemalta from assigning his post at the Gas Division to somebody else.

Dr Tonio Azzopardi signed the application.