Job situation highly preoccupying - GWU

The GWU'S national council has expressed concern at indications that the next two years would be crucial and difficult for workers, both on a national and on a sectional level as far as employment was concerned.

This was due to various factors, which included the difficult financial situation in the country, the slow pace of the economy as well as measures that would effect social services, the union said.

Reporting on the outcome of a GWU council meeting to discuss the employment situation, particularly in the light of the restructuring expected in the next couple of years, the GWU said that the job situation was highly preoccupying.

Many employers were discharging workers, companies were calling for a freeze of benefits and conditions of work agreed in collective agreements and some have made requests to the union to reduce wages.

The GWU said that certain other companies were contemplating reducing their workforce and assigning work to sub-contractors. At the same time companies in which the government had shareholding would be going through a privatisation process, the union said.

Apart from this, the lack of new investment, the increase in public expenditure, the deficit, national debt among other factors could lead to loss of jobs.

These factors along with the government commitment to stay in line with EU directives showed the real situation the country was in.

The GWU said it had the duty to present a clear picture of the situation while it committed itself to defend the interests of the workers.