Mini reshuffle as PM transfers employment portfolio to Byron Camilleri
Less than two months after carrying out a Cabinet reshuffle, on Wednesday Prime Minister Robert Abela shifted responsibility of the employment portfolio from Clyde Caruana to Byron Camilleri.
The decision, a government statement said, is intended to consolidate and coordinate the management of foreign workers in Malta better.
The Identita and JobsPlus entities are now under one ministry, which will be named the Home Affairs, National Security and Employment Ministry.
The statement said that for months, the government has been taking direct action to strengthen the control its entities have. The step taken today is primarily intended to improve this coordination.
The employment sector will continue to grow on the foundations laid by Minister Clyde Caruana, the statement said.
As a conseqence of this, reforms and equality have been moved from Camilleri’s responsibility to Chris Fearne’s, with parliamentary secretary Rebecca Buttigieg remaining in her place, but under a different minister.
Fearne is now named Minister for European Funds, Equality, Reforms and Social Dialogue.
On 6 January, Prime Minister Abela had carried out several changes in the responsibilities of his ministers.
PN reaction
The mini-reshuffle that the Prime Minister announced today shows that he lacks confidence in Minister Clyde Caruana, whose responsibility of employment was passed on to Byron Camilleri, the Nationalist Party said.
This is yet another confirmation of the disputes that exist between Abela and Caruana, the PN said.
It also means that Abela is reactive and lacks direction, the PN said.