The General Workers' Union is today expected to meet the management of a "major company" that will be "substantially" cutting down on employees due to the prevailing economic situation.

GWU general secretary Tony Zarb opted not to name the company at this stage saying he would rather await the outcome of the meeting before making the information public.

He added that other companies, "about three or four in total", had also informed the union that they may have to terminate employment or reduce working hours if the government insisted on increasing their burden through the new utility tariffs.

The GWU announced last week that Trelleborg Sealing Solutions would operate on a four-day working week due to the downturn within the global automotive industry.

The union yesterday called on the government not to increase the financial burden on workers and companies that were already battling the global financial crisis.