Neville Gafà Returns To Prime Minister’s Office As Customer Care Coordinator
Neville Gafà has returned to the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), resuming duties similar to those he held under former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
This time, however, Gafà will report to Parliamentary Secretary for Social Dialogue Andy Ellul, whose portfolio falls under the direct oversight of Prime Minister Robert Abela.
Gafà previously served as an advisor at the OPM during Muscat’s tenure and was recognised for his management of customer care, ensuring public complaints about government services were addressed efficiently.
Following the change in leadership, he was sidelined when Abela assumed office, despite having supported Abela’s bid for Labour Party leadership in 2020. Relations between the two eventually improved over recent months, paving the way for his return.
“Mr Neville Gafà has been engaged within the Secretariat of Hon. Dr Andy Ellul on the basis of his prior experience in coordinating customer care matters. In this capacity, he will be supporting the secretariat with respect to customer care issues,” said a spokesperson for Ellul’s secretariat.
The spokesperson added that Gafà will be employed full-time (40 hours per week), with remuneration in line with established public service frameworks and processed according to standard procedures.
According to government regulations outlined in the Manual on Resourcing Policies and Procedures, a coordinator’s maximum annual salary is €33,694 under government scale seven, with an additional 25% disturbance pay or allowance, bringing the potential total to €42,117.
By comparison, a senior coordinator earns a maximum of €44,821, while other “person of trust” roles, such as advisors or policy consultants, can be significantly more lucrative.
For instance, former economy minister Chris Cardona works as a government policy consultant under a 10-hour-per-week contract, receiving a pro-rata salary of around €11,000, a €20,000 expertise allowance, and additional allowances for car, expenses, and communication.
Gafà is a controversial figure. He has previously faced allegations related to a multi-million-euro medical visa scam in which Libyan nationals were reportedly charged thousands of euros for medical visas and treatment in Malta.
His past actions have also included placing placards at a makeshift memorial for murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in Valletta, featuring negative news printouts about the journalist.
Social media activity indicates that Gafà has been performing customer care work for the Labour Party in Gozo and is now extending this role to Malta, interacting with members at party headquarters in Ħamrun.
Gafà’s return highlights both his rehabilitation within the Labour Party and the ongoing practice of assigning experienced individuals to customer care and advisory roles within the government.
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