Forum asks MPs to step in MCESD participation issue

Forum, a group of 11 unions demanding a seat on the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, is petitioning MPs to present a Private Member's Bill on the issue.

The Forum said yesterday its members would continue campaigning for the seat till the eve of the general election, if necessary.

"This is not sour grapes. We just feel that, since we represent 12,000 members and three pillars of society, including education, health and tourism, we should be given the chance to contribute," the president of the Malta Union of Teachers, John Bencini said, pointing out that it was crucial for the Forum to participate more fully in discussions on issues like the Budget.

He stressed that, contrary to what the government was saying, there did not have to be consensus among the present members for the Forum to be given a seat. "There will never be consensus because there are some people who, for whatever reason, do not want us there."

He said it was up to the government and the buck should stop there. All that was needed was for the law relating to the structure of the MCESD to be changed.

Mr Bencini pointed out that consensus never featured in the law governing the MCESD and no unanimity was required when the Federation of Industry and the Chamber of Commerce merged and they still retained two seats.

Likewise, he added, there was no need for any of the other groups to give up their seats because, with Forum's participation and an extra seat for the government, everything would regain balance: the government, the employers and the unions would all have five seats each.

Mr Bencini lashed out at Vince Farrugia, director-general of the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises - GRTU, for being adamantly against Forum's membership.

Regardless of the government's decision, the Forum would continue to express itself on all issues discussed, if necessary even by holding press conferences outside the MCESD's door.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Public Dialogue, Chris Said explained later the government was in favour of Forum's participation but wanted consensus to be reached with the other members because MCESD was set up in the spirit of consensus.

He said a meeting was held last Friday where the government suggested the setting up of a working group to decide on the issue but the social partners did not agree. Forum should persuade the social partners to change their stand, Dr Said noted.

He added that the government offered Forum to join the Malta EU Steering and Action Committee, a request that had not yet been accepted.

Forum said it was not after charity and the government had to stop passing on the buck.