As part of Evolution’s merger with NetEnt, the supplier planned to layoff around 300 of its Malta-based employees. NetEnt’s Malta employees were sent home in early December and instructed to await further information.

At the time, a spokesman reportedly told the Times of Malta that NetEnt’s Qormi-based studio would be permanently shut down, leaving all employees “at risk of redundancy.”

Last week, the GWU declared an industrial dispute with NetEnt and Evolution. The trade union argued that the gaming businesses refused to recognise it as a representative of the employees at risk of layoffs. The union also claimed the companies were breaching the law on collective redundancies due to the large number of potential layoffs.

As a result, NetEnt and Evolution were blocked from making any redundancies prior to a hearing on 17 December.

Although no details of the agreement were divulged in the court hearing, it has been reported that the trade union has reached an out-of-court settlement with the two businesses. Less employees are now expected to be made redundant.

Through the new agreement, Evolution will reportedly offer alternative employment to at least 40 employees, while a further 60 are to be given other employment elsewhere in Malta. Severance packages will also be improved from the original offering. 

Gambling Insider has contacted Evolution and NetEnt for comment on the story.