Opposition Leader Joseph Muscat called on the country to unite in a national, non-political protest against the new water and electricity tariffs.
In a radio message, Dr Muscat condemned the government's decision to raise the bills, which would burden thousands of families and companies.
While the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin (UĦM) said it would exhaust all negotiations round the table before considering taking to the streets, the General Workers' Union said it would have no problem joining a national protest if all social partners remained united and showed their opposition to the new tariffs.
"If this is our last option, we would have no choice but to take to the streets in protest," GWU general secretary Tony Zarb said.
UĦM general secretary Gejtu Vella said: "We have always believed in constructive social dialogue and will first exhaust all our options at the negotiating table". However, he did not rule out that the union could join in a protest, saying that the decision would be put to the council.
Earlier, Alternattiva Demokratika chairman Arnold Cassola had himself called for a protest and confirmed, when contacted, that the party would attend if the manifestation was a national one that involved all social partners.
Prof. Cassola said the party was very worried about the effects of the new tariffs and was prepared to participate in the battle for reasonable and sustainable energy tariffs.
Dr Muscat said the government could not have chosen a worse time to introduce higher tariffs considering the world was struggling with a financial crisis.
Moreover, the fact the government was backdating the introduction of the new tariffs went against the principles of economic stability and undermined the country's credibility in the eyes of investors. The government would have to repair the damage in Monday's budget.
Dr Muscat said the government was proving it did not believe in social dialogue and had turned consultation into a farce with the Prime Minister's absence in the last days being noticeable.
Instead, he said, Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt had taken over and "with typical arrogance" bulldozed everything and imposed his decision on the social partners.
In reaction, the Nationalist Party said Dr Muscat should have made such comments when his party in government had raised the power tariffs, even though the price of oil was just $12 per barrel.