Forum keen on social pact

The Forum Unions Maltin has come out in support of the Prime Minister's fresh call for a social pact but insisted they could no longer be kept out of the discussion with other social partners in the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development. In a statement, the confederation of 11 unions said: "It will be very difficult to imagine how an attempt at a social pact will take place if there is an atmosphere of exclusivity."

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said the time had come to try working again at a social pact.

Ironically, the Forum said, Dr Gonzi's appeal was made during its first AGM, a new confederation of trade unions representing a total of 11,000 workers which is not a member of the MCESD.

The last attempt at a social pact fell through in November 2004 in the face of objections, particularly by the General Workers' Union, to some of the key points of the 22-measure economic plan.