Gov’t official: bill reinstating ERT, rehiring staff to go to Parlt on March 5

Draft legislation foreseeing the reinstatement of former state broadcaster ERT, which was abruptly closed down in June 2013 by the previous conservative-led administration, will be submitted in Parliament next Thursday, a government official said on Friday.

The official said any dismissed ERT staff interested in regaining their jobs would be rehired but stressed that this would not burden the budget.

Of some 2,600 civil servants who lost their jobs when the previous government pulled the plug on ERT, around 500 were rehired.

Officials of the new government have noted that the previous administration had budgeted for the recruitment of 15,000 civil servants this year and that their planned hirings are far fewer and therefore would not burden the budget.