Social partners call for measures to mitigate tariffs' impact

The social partners in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development have called on the government to take measures to mitigate the impact of the new water and electricity tariffs.

In a joint statement read by chairman Sonny Portelli at the end of an urgently called meeting, the social partners said such measures had to ensure social and economic sustainability and safeguard the people’s interests.

The social partners expressed their disappointment that their suggestions on the tariffs presented to the government last Friday were not accepted.

Although the tariffs presented by the government yesterday were revised, they were still too high, the social partners insisted.

They said it was unacceptable that there had only been two meetings on such an issue and while they were still waiting for the government’s to go back to them with a reaction, the government opted to announce its decision to the media.

The least they expected, they said, was for the government to inform them about its decision before informing the press.