The Union Haddiema Maghqudin will be presenting its proposals on pensions reform to the government by the end of March, the union's general secretary Gejtu Vella said yesterday.
Addressing UHM pensioners, Mr Vella said the union would discuss the White Paper on pension reform published by the government at its general conference in January and come up with tangible proposals soon after.
"The UHM believes there is need for change. Not changing would mean regressing since no such thing as a status quo really exists," Mr Vella said.
Whatever proposals it would table, the UHM would make sure retired citizens who have worked for so long will get an adequate pension and also see to it that future pensioners are guaranteed good living standards.
About 18 months ago the UHM started drawing up plans for a social pact which, if and when finalised, would bind the government, employers and unions to a formula that would increase Malta's competitive edge, create work and attract foreign investment, he said.
"Our idea was to address the country's economic problems collectively and not to let politicians go it alone and decide for us," Mr Vella said.
Unfortunately, he said, the lengthy meetings at the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development in the hot summer afternoons proved futile as the social partners failed to come up with a common road map on time.
"Some irresponsible MCESD members did not respect confidentiality and we came to a situation where the government had to take decisions on its own," Mr Vella said.
However, he insisted, at no instance in the course of discussions did the UHM accept that workers should lose holidays falling on weekends, as the government had proposed in the budget.
"The government should go back to the MCESD. If it insists on going it alone, it would be simply asking for trouble," Mr Vella said.
Insisting that the union's strength stemmed from its independence from political parties, he said partisanship still crippled the country when it came to tackling vital issues such as employment, competitiveness and other important matters.
Asked whether the UHM would accept the General Workers' Union's suggestion to hold a meeting between all unions so as to discuss a common front over the question of reduced leave, Mr Vella said the union was willing to cooperate.
"It is unfortunate that Maltese unions only come together when such issues are at stake. Let's all win credibility and let's act in the workers' interests at all times," Mr Vella said.