UHM to submit social pact 'blueprint' to MCESD

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin expects its report on a social pact to be "a blueprint" that would be discussed at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The union's general secretary Gejtu Vella said the report commissioned by the union would be ready by the end of February and would then be discussed and approved at the union's general conference on March 16.

The document would then be passed on to the social partners within the MCESD for discussion.

In a separate development, social partners on the MCESD are considering a proposal to set up a number of working committees. The committees would deal with the public sector in the economy, social security reform, public health service reform and national competitiveness.

They would be made up of nine members each, six of which would be appointed by the social groups, with MCESD chairman Victor Scicluna and economist Gordon Cordina sitting on each committee.

The aim is for these committees to finalise their reports before August so that the issue of the social pact would be discussed by October.

Mr Vella said the union was taking the social pact very seriously as it believed it to be the only way forward for Malta.

A UHM delegation is set to meet Opposition Leader Alfred Sant at the union's request on Friday to discuss the issue, Mr Vella said.