Vehicle Roadworthiness Test operators are asking the government not to issue more licences for VRT operators and to drastically cut government-induced costs, Association of Retailers and Traders director general Vince Farrugia said when contacted yesterday.

The GRTU, which represents the current 38 VRT operators, yesterday held a meeting with Finance Minister John Dalli and Transport Minister Censu Galea on this burning issue.

VRT operators were granted an operating licence three years ago and this will be renewed in August.

The GRTU is claiming that most of the operators are running at a loss.

It is therefore asking the government to reduce the current licence fee from Lm500 to Lm80 which is the licence fee for a mechanic's garage.

The association is also requesting that the Lm1.35 paid back to the government out of the fee they charge for a car should be retained by the operator once the Transport Authority sets up a computer link with each operator.

The Lm1.35 covers government's administrative costs.

The association is also asking the government not to issue any more licences at least for the next five years.

"The market is not liberalised because the government is controlling the fees and the number of times that a VRT has to be carried out.

"While the demand is being regulated by the government, we feel that it should also regulate the supply of VRT operators," Mr Farrugia said.