Social pact talks should include political parties and civil society

A Labour Party led by Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca would be willing to take part in talks for a social pact to be reached.

This would be done for the country's benefit and the common good, the leadership hopeful said yesterday.

Speaking after a meeting with the administration and section secretaries of the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, Mrs Coleiro Preca said that besides the inclusion of political parties represented in Parliament she would also like to see the inclusion of civil society in talks for a social pact.

UĦM secretary general Gejtu Vella said his union also agreed with the inclusion of the MLP in the talks so much so that it had in the past held specific meetings with outgoing party leader Alfred Sant and then requested the inclusion of the MLP in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The government, he said, had assured the union that the MLP was welcome to take part in the MCESD any time it wanted. The union, he said, believed in a meaningful social dialogue.

Mrs Coleiro Preca said it was very important that social dialogue was strengthened. Although it had been positive that the MCESD was given legal structure, it should be strengthened with the integral participation of civil society.

The contender also spoke on flexicurity, saying this concept combined stable economic development and a strong social sector. It had borne positive results in Denmark, where it was developed in the mid-1990s with the number of jobs increasing strongly. The concept positively brought together the need for continuous adaptation to international socio/economic changes and a social solidarity system.

Mr Vella congratulated Mrs Coleiro-Preca for the forthcoming contest and said that her participation reflected the country's development. For it was no longer the time that men occupied senior positions while women remained at home.