During 2007 Government created forty four new opportunities for Gozitan government employees who previously had to commute daily to perform their duties in Government offices in Malta, bringing the total to 113 Gozitans transferred to Gozo since 1999. This, in conformity with a policy which entails the transfer of Government back-office work in Gozo in order that more such workers could be deployed in Gozo rather than in Malta, the Ministry for Gozo said.

Yesterday, the Minister for Gozo, Giovanna Debono, visited a recently set-up office where the Payroll of all those employed in Government Service together with Treasury Pensions, are being processed and issued. Minister Debono also visited the new Civil Registration and Validation data inputting section, the new Salaries Health section, the Consumer Affairs section and the Inland Revenue Call Centre - sections that were all transferred to Gozo in 2007. Minister Debono explained how, through the coordination of the Directorate General (Operations) within the Ministry for Gozo, it has been possible to target specific functions which may be performed through back-offices in Gozo.

The forty four Government employees who were transferred to offices in Gozo in 2007 process information related to various entities on a national basis. Previously set up back-office sections include the Government information service 153 that has been attending to calls and enquiries since 2006, as well as the Public Registry Data Inputting section, the Department of Social Security and other salaries sections. The transfer of more back-office work from Malta to Gozo was one of the measures announced by Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi during the presentation of Budget 2007.

Minister Debono referred to private entities that followed Government's example in this area and created work in Gozo for their respective employees. Government's waste management company WasteServ Malta Ltd channels calls made to its Freephone 8007 2200 and its general line through a call centre in Gozo whilst two prominent commercial Banks have set up a back-office centre or are in the process of doing so. Such initiatives prove instrumental in the creation of further job opportunities in Gozo.

'This all shows Government's commitment towards acknowledging and addressing the special needs of Gozo and its people', concluded Minister Debono.