Netent to Solve Disputes in Malta

Gaming provider NetEnt has signed an out-of-court settlement with the General Workers Union (GWU) of Malta.

The provider decided to lay off about 300 of its Malta-based staff as part of Evolution Gaming's merger with NetEnt. Early in December, employees of NetEnt's Malta were sent home and ordered to wait for further information.

A spokesperson at the time allegedly told that NetEnt's Qormi studio will be completely shut down, leaving all staff "at risk of redundancy."

The GWU announced an trade conflict with NetEnt and with Evolution Gaming last week. The union claimed that the gaming companies declined to accept it as an employee leader at risk of layoffs. The union also argued that due to the high amount of possible layoffs, the businesses were violating the mutual redundancies rule.

"Thanks to the Court’s intervention following our urgent request, 324 illegal dismissals have now been put on hold. We will continue to insist that NetEnt and Evolution Gaming honour their consultation obligations in full, and we will do our utmost to ensure that jobs are saved, and, where that is not possible, that appropriate compensation is paid,”

- a union representative said. 

As a result, before a hearing on 17 December NetEnt and Evolution were blocked from doing any redundancies.

While in the court hearing no specifics of the deal were released, it has been reported that the labour union has signed an out-of-court settlement with the two firms. The hope is that fewer staff will be idle now.

Evolution Gaming is currently providing alternative work to at least 40 workers in the new deal, whilst another 60 are to be offered other positions elsewhere in Malta. It would also boost the severance payments from the initial bid.