Cap. 600 Art. 17Offer of permanent employment with the Authority to public officers detailed for duty with the Authority.     Cap. 93.  Cap. 58.    Cap. 58.     Cap. 93.

(1) The Authority may, with the approval of the

Prime Minister, offer to any officer detailed for duty with the

Authority under any of the provisions of article 15 permanent employment with the Authority at a remuneration and on terms and conditions not less favourable than those enjoyed by such officer at the date of such offer.

(2) The terms and conditions comprised in any offer made as aforesaid shall not be deemed to be less favourable merely because they are not in all respects identical with or superior to those enjoyed by the officer concerned at the date of such offer, if such terms and conditions, taken as a whole, in the opinion of the Prime Minister offer substantially equivalent or greater benefits.

(3) Every officer who accepts permanent employment with the Authority offered to him, under the provisions of sub-article (1), shall for all purposes other than those of the Pensions Ordinance and of the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act, and saving the provisions of sub-article (6), be deemed to have ceased to be in service with the Government and to have entered into service with the Authority on the date of his acceptance, and for the purposes of the said Ordinance and of the said Act, so far as applicable to him, service with the Authority shall be deemed to be service with the Government within the meanings thereof respectively.

(4) Every such officer as aforesaid who, immediately before accepting permanent employment with the Authority, was entitled to benefit under the Widows’ and Orphans’ Pensions Act, shall continue to be so entitled to benefit thereunder to all intents as if his service with the Authority were service with the Government.

(5) The Authority shall pay to the Government such contributions as may from time to time be determined by the Minister responsible for finance in respect of the cost of pensions and gratuities earned by an officer who has accepted performance of employment with the Authority as aforesaid during the period commencing on the date of such officer’s acceptance.

(6) (a) For the purposes of this article posts and salary grades with the Authority shall be classified in the most nearly corresponding grades and incremental levels in the service under the Government of Malta by reference to job description, skills, responsibilities and other analogous factors.

(b) The classification referred to in paragraph (a) shall be carried out by a board composed of a chairman appointed by the Ministry responsible for finance and two other members, one appointed by the Ministry responsible centrally for personnel policies in the public service and one appointed by the Authority. The classification shall be subject to the final approval of the Minister responsible for finance.

(c) Such classification shall take place within three months of any adjustment of salaries of employees in Government service and, or, of employees of the Authority.

(d) No post shall be classified in a grade higher than that of a Grade 3 in the service of the Government or such other grade that the Minister responsible for finance may from time to time by notice in the Gazette determine.

(e) Without prejudice to article 113 of the

Constitution, no person may, following a classification as aforesaid, be entitled to rights under the said Pensions Ordinance less favourable than those to which he would have been entitled prior to such classification.