Unions warn government over 'lack of consultation'

The two main trade unions - the General Workers' Union and the Union Haddiema Maghqudin - have both called on the government to delay the introduction of the eco-contribution and warned talks at social partner level could be seriously jeorpardised if it persisted with what they perceive as lack of consultation.

The eco-tax was discussed by the GWU's national council yesterday, after which the union said it could not tolerate the way the government was behaving towards the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

By failing to hold effective consultations and using the council for its own convenience, the government was endangering the concept of social dialogue, it said. If this situation was not remedied immediately it would have to reconsider its position within the council.

The GWU called on the government to delay the implementation of the eco-tax and, as a sign of its belief in the contribution of the social partners, to meet the MCESD to evaluate the measure's impact on workers, pensioners and employers. Consensus should be found on a way to remove the burden of this tax, it said.

The UHM was equally adamant about the need for more consultation with the social partners. It made its protestations during a meeting with Environment Minister George Pullicino and Tonio Fenech, the Parliamentary Secretary at the Finance Ministry.

It insisted that the government's participation within the MCESD was a must in order for economic revival to take place and social justice to be safeguarded.

"The UHM will not be willing to take part in negotiations over the social pact if the government persists in introducing measures that burden workers and their families."

The government's failure to participate fully in the MCESD would mean moving towards a situation of industrial conflict, the union warned.

It too called for the eco-contribution to be postponed pending discussions with the social partners.