Hawkers accept market relocation

Monti hawkers will mount their stalls again this morning after an agreement was reached with the authorities following almost two weeks of protests.

The 115 hawkers will be operating from Freedom Square, at the entrance of Valletta, while upgrading works are underway in Merchants Street. This is expected to take two weeks.

Afterwards, they will return to Merchants Street, though further down the road in relation to the spot they used to occupy.

A four-man committee made up of government and Union Haddiema Maghqudin (UHM) officials - the UHM represents the hawkers - will look into the logistics of the permanent site and make suggestions to the authorities about any changes deemed necessary. The union will also be seeking advice from foreign experts.

The hawkers had resisted a permanent move from their former spot, and this week they also asked people entering the capital to sign a petition urging the government not to relocate the flea market.

Asked why the hawkers had acquiesced, UHM general secretary Gejtu Vella said the union looked at the best option. The government was determined to move the market to its new location, and the hawkers would try to work from there.

The government will also finance new stalls for hawkers. These will be built according to specifications set in consultation with the union. The hawkers will be responsible to keep the stalls in good condition and are forbidden from changing their appearance.

The government will also provide signage to indicate the market's location.

Moreover, the government will give Lm10,000 to up to 12 hawkers who surrender their licence to operate in Valletta up to May 31.

About Lm500 collected by the hawkers during a protest on Tuesday morning were donated to Dar tal-Providenza, the residential homes for the handicapped in Siggiewi.

Both the General Workers' Union and the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU expressed satisfaction that an agreement was reached.