Union leaders insisted today that their protest against the utility tariffs on February 28 was not political.

"It is about jobs and the hardship being caused to the people," John Bencini, chairman of the Ghaqda Unions Maltin said.

The protest is being held by 12 trade unions including the MUT, the GWU and the MUMN.

A unions' delegation which included Mr Bencini and GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb called at Labour headquarters this afternoon to officially invite the Labour Party to attend.

Mr Bencini said the unions were inviting all political parties to take part, but so far it had only been the PL which gave them an appointment for a meeting during which the invitation could be delivered.

Mr Bencini and Mr Zarb said such demonstrations were held in the EU often, independently of which party was in government.

Mr Bencini said that when Parliament early next month is asked to vote on the opposition motion to strike down the new tariffs, all MPs should consider their vote carefully.

The new tariffs, Mr Bencini said, had undermined families and also businesses. Businesses had three options - to close down, sack workers, or raise prices when consumers had less disposable income.

PL leader Joseph Muscat reiterated the PL's backing for the protest.

He said that one would have expected the government to learn from what had happened in 2008 and this time hold meaningful dialogue with the social partners. But this did not happen and no talks were held before the new tariffs came into force.

He too expressed his concerns over the impact of the tariffs on families and business competitiveness and said there was also uncertainty over whether gas prices would be raised.

Furthermore, while an interest charge of 6% has been imposed on late payment of electricity bills, it was not clear whether this also applied for bills issued on the basis of estimates rather than actual readings.