Aviation Cosmetics workers receive wages after court-ordered asset freeze
Economy Minister says next step is to find a new employer for the workers
The airplane sprayers who were left without their wages have been paid, Economy Minister Silvio Schembri has said.
Earlier this month, the Times of Malta reported that some 50 workers employed by Aviation Cosmetics did not receive their February salary as the company faced financial troubles.
At the time, Schembri said workers could be assured that they would be paid the salaries they were owed.
“The issue is not if, but how we ensure that the company’s workers get paid,” the minister said around two weeks ago.
On Monday, Schembri confirmed that the workers have been paid.
The wages came from the government’s seizure of Aviation Cosmetics’ funds, Times of Malta understands.
The Dutch company recently had its assets frozen by court order.
The court also ordered the company to be evicted from the government-owned land it operates on after it failed to pay rent.
Earlier this month, Magistrate Claudio Zammit gave the company 15 days to vacate the hangar and to settle over €453,000 in outstanding lease payments to the government’s industrial land manager.
Sources said that more than one foreign company has shown interest in taking over the operations of the business “lock, stock and barrel”, including its workers.
On Monday, Schembri said that the next step was to find a new employer for the workers.
"My appeal to the workers is to stay strong because, God willing in a few days we will be able to offer a solution for the future," he said.