UHM against Cabinet rank for MCESD chairman

The Union Haddiema Maghqudin yesterday shot down Labour leader Alfred Sant's proposal that the chairman of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development should have the rank of a Cabinet minister.

Following a meeting between union officials and its section secretaries, the union said awarding the MCESD chairman a ministerial rank would rob him of the independence that is so necessary for such a post.

"The Cabinet is made up of people elected on the manifesto of a political party and hence the MCESD chairman should not assume responsibility or be the spokesman for the social partners in the Cabinet," the UHM said.

"For meaningful and constructive dialogue in the MCESD, the government, unions and employers should have the same rights.

"At present the minister participates within the MCESD where he explains the government's policy and listens to what all the partners have to say. Hence the social partners have every opportunity to understand and influence government policy.

"The minister then reports back to the Cabinet. Under Labour's proposal the MCSED chairman would have to try to sum up the divergent positions within the council and there is no guarantee that he will represent the views of the social partners," the UHM said.