Social pact model presented to President

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin yesterday presented the first copy of its proposed social pact document, drawn up by professional experts, to President Guido de Marco.

Union general secretary Gejtu Vella said talk on the need for a social pact between the social partners and other bodies, including political parties, had been going on for months.

The pact would facilitate the necessary economic and social changes in a managed way. Competitiveness topped the document's agenda.

It also analysed in detail worker training, bureaucracy, how government expenditure could be translated into more value for money, tourism, manufacture and attracting investment.

Each chapter analyses the priorities and the document seeks to identify the right body to implement certain changes and the time that would be required to implement such changes.

On Monday the document is expected to be presented to the chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. Copies will also be presented to the Archbishop on Wednesday and to the political parties on Thursday.

Mr Vella said the pact was not just aimed at reaching consensus between the social partners but also between all the social forces where the Church was a very important factor. That was why the document was also being presented to the Archbishop.

He said that after presenting the document to the MCESD chairman, the union expected the other bodies within the council to criticise it, make suggestions, propose changes and updates so that by the end of the year there would be a pact that would include the elements desired by unions, employers, the government and others.

There could not be winners and losers in this country, Mr Vella said. The country was everyone's responsibility.

The UHM delegation also took the opportunity to thank President de Marco, now nearing the end of his presidency, telling him they had always found him a source of solace whenever they felt the need to go to him to discuss issues.