Several companies are holding their breath as they wait to hear how the government's revised utility tariffs will impact their business and the livelihood of their employees, Malta's leading trade unions said.
The General Workers' Union (GWU) and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UĦM) have been in contact with various companies which are worried that they might not be able to cope as the new tariffs loom over their heads during this time of global financial crises.
Even though the government has revised the tariffs - and is now considering intruding a two- or three-year transition period for manufacturing firms and hotels whose utility charges are currently capped - these companies will heave a sigh of relief only once the revised measures are released.
The MCESD held a two-hour meeting yesterday morning over the tariff proposals and was briefed by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
The ministers did not comment after the meeting but represent-atives of some of the social partners said that while there appeared to be a willingness for consensus, no agreement had been reached.
A second MCESD meeting is to be held today to discuss the government's latest proposals, chairman Sonny Portelli said.
Last week the GWU announced that Trelleborg Sealing Solutions would operate on a four-day working week due to the downturn within the global automotive industry.
When asked if any other companies were facing such measures, GWU section secretary Jason Deguara said that the union was in contact with other companies that were facing similar problems. Mr Deguara explained that, due to confidentiality reasons, he could not divulge more information about these companies, but he added that, apart from the global situation, many companies were concerned as to how the new tariffs would affect them.
UĦM general secretary Gejtu Vella said that his union was hearing similar concerns especially from the manufacturing and hotel industries.
This concern has also been voiced by the Malta Employers' Association which said that the "untimely" proposed utility tariffs would cause unemployment and bring about the economic slowdown the country has so far avoided.
The business sector has been very critical of the government's proposal to end its subsidy of utility tariffs for industry and a number of business leaders have written to the press to vent their frustration. FOI president Martin Galea, writing in The Times, said industry's competitiveness "hangs by a thread" and unsustainable shocks to costs "could have very serious consequences". Farsons CEO Louis Farrugia also wrote in The Times and while stating that the proposed charges amount to a 300 per cent increase in costs, pointed out that industry should not be made to pay for Enemalta's inefficiencies.
The General Workers' Union (GWU) and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UĦM) have been in contact with various companies which are worried that they might not be able to cope as the new tariffs loom over their heads during this time of global financial crises.
Even though the government has revised the tariffs - and is now considering intruding a two- or three-year transition period for manufacturing firms and hotels whose utility charges are currently capped - these companies will heave a sigh of relief only once the revised measures are released.
The MCESD held a two-hour meeting yesterday morning over the tariff proposals and was briefed by Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt and Finance Minister Tonio Fenech.
The ministers did not comment after the meeting but represent-atives of some of the social partners said that while there appeared to be a willingness for consensus, no agreement had been reached.
A second MCESD meeting is to be held today to discuss the government's latest proposals, chairman Sonny Portelli said.
Last week the GWU announced that Trelleborg Sealing Solutions would operate on a four-day working week due to the downturn within the global automotive industry.
When asked if any other companies were facing such measures, GWU section secretary Jason Deguara said that the union was in contact with other companies that were facing similar problems. Mr Deguara explained that, due to confidentiality reasons, he could not divulge more information about these companies, but he added that, apart from the global situation, many companies were concerned as to how the new tariffs would affect them.
UĦM general secretary Gejtu Vella said that his union was hearing similar concerns especially from the manufacturing and hotel industries.
This concern has also been voiced by the Malta Employers' Association which said that the "untimely" proposed utility tariffs would cause unemployment and bring about the economic slowdown the country has so far avoided.
The business sector has been very critical of the government's proposal to end its subsidy of utility tariffs for industry and a number of business leaders have written to the press to vent their frustration. FOI president Martin Galea, writing in The Times, said industry's competitiveness "hangs by a thread" and unsustainable shocks to costs "could have very serious consequences". Farsons CEO Louis Farrugia also wrote in The Times and while stating that the proposed charges amount to a 300 per cent increase in costs, pointed out that industry should not be made to pay for Enemalta's inefficiencies.