Government to present counter proposals

The government is shortly expected to present a set of counter proposals to the port workers' latest offer to reduce their tariffs, Competitiveness Minister Censu Galea said.

Other proposals will also be submitted to all operators working at the ports.

The counter proposals were formulated following a four-hour meeting between the Prime Minister, ministers Censu Galea and Austin Gatt, Freeport corporation regulator Mark Portelli and Malta Maritime Authority chairman and chairman of the negotiating team Marc Bonello.

Port workers are known to have proposed a cut of over 20 per cent in their tariffs, but the cuts in their tariffs alone will only bring down overall port tariffs by about eight per cent. It is understood that the government will be recommending further cuts than those proposed.

Mr Galea said there are other issues in the port reform that have to be tackled.

It is understood that a way forward has been identified to enable the Freeport to engage more port workers.

The issue of port workers' foremen at the Freeport is, however, still unresolved. Currently there is only one licensed port worker's foreman contracted to work at the Freeport and the other licensed foremen are demanding to be given the right to work there too.