Malta Rallies Around Carlo Gavazzi Workers: Local Companies Line Up with Job Offers as Community Shows True Colours

# Hope on the Horizon: Maltese Companies Line Up to Offer Carlo Gavazzi Workers New Beginnings

The closure of Carlo Gavazzi’s Malta operations may have sent shockwaves through the local manufacturing sector, but Minister for Enterprise Miriam Dalli has brought a glimmer of hope to the 120 workers facing redundancy. Speaking from her Valletta office, Dalli revealed that several Maltese companies have already expressed “genuine interest” in absorbing the skilled workforce, signalling that the island’s tight-knit industrial community is ready to rally around its own.

“It’s not just about finding jobs – it’s about recognising the exceptional talent we have right here in Malta,” Dalli told Hot Malta, her Maltese laced with that distinctive warmth that characterises our island’s approach to crisis. “These workers represent decades of expertise in electronics and manufacturing. They’re not just employees; they’re part of our industrial heritage.”

The announcement comes as Malta grapples with the broader implications of the Swiss company’s decision to relocate operations to Eastern Europe. The closure of the Bulebel industrial estate facility, operational since 1975, marks the end of an era for many families who’ve seen generations pass through its doors. For towns like Żejtun and Marsaskala, where Carlo Gavazzi has been both employer and community anchor, the news initially felt like losing a piece of local identity.

Yet Malta’s response has been quintessentially Maltese. Within hours of the announcement, Facebook groups like “Jobs in Malta” and “Malta Manufacturing Network” lit up with support, as local business owners shared posts offering to review CVs and conduct informal interviews. The Malta Chamber of Commerce has established a dedicated hotline, while the Malta Employers Association has created a skills-matching database that reads like a who’s who of the island’s industrial sector.

“We’ve seen this before,” explains Maria Micallef, a veteran HR consultant who helped restructure workers after the Dockyard privatisation. “When the chips are down, Maltese business owners remember that these aren’t just statistics – they’re our neighbours, our children’s friends’ parents, the people we see at village festas.”

The minister confirmed that companies ranging from pharmaceutical manufacturers to emerging tech firms have approached the Malta Enterprise Corporation with specific roles in mind. Some are offering retraining programs, while others see immediate potential for Carlo Gavazzi’s precision electronics expertise in Malta’s growing medical devices sector.

Local entrepreneur Marco Zammit, whose family owns a electronics assembly operation in Mosta, embodies this community spirit. “My father started his business the same year Carlo Gavazzi opened here. We owe it to these workers to give them a soft landing. Plus,” he adds with a knowing smile, “in Malta, good workers bring their entire network. It’s how we’ve always done business – through relationships, not just transactions.”

The government’s response extends beyond job matching. Dalli announced a €2 million support package including retraining grants and temporary wage supplements for companies hiring affected workers. The Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology (MCAST) will offer fast-track courses in emerging technologies, while the European Social Fund has earmarked additional support.

As evening falls over the Bulebel industrial estate, the reality is still sinking in for many. Yet conversations overheard at nearby kazini – those social clubs that form the backbone of Maltese community life – reveal a characteristic resilience. “U iva, we’ll manage,” says one worker, sipping his Kinnie at the Żejtun band club. “My son’s friend works at that new medical company in Hal Far. Says they’re desperate for people who understand quality control.”

In true Maltese fashion, the Carlo Gavazzi closure might just become another chapter in the island’s story of adaptation – where economic necessity meets community solidarity, and where the loss of one institution seeds the growth of several others. As Dalli puts it: “This isn’t just about saving jobs. It’s about remembering who we are as Maltese – resilient, connected, and always looking out for our own.”