The Malta Employers’ Association is protesting against the appointment of Vince Farrugia to represent employers on the European Economic and Social Committee, the EU's consultative body on civil society.

Addressing a news conference this afternoon, president Pierre Fava said that through the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development, employer representatives, which included the Malta Hotels and Restaurants Association, the Malta Employers' Association and the Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, nominated Stefano Mallia and Lawrence Mizzi to represent employers.

MEA director general Joe Farrugia said that even in the MCESD set up, Mr Farrugia did not represent employers but the self-employed and the Ecosoc should not be used to do favours to people.

It was announced this morning that Mr Farrugia, the director general of the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises – GRTU and Stefano Mallia, from the Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise and Industry, were among five Maltese members nominated to sit on this committee, which was the EU's consultative body on civil society. They would be representing employers.

Michael Parnis from the General Workers' Union, and Anne Marie Darmanin, from the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin, who represent the unions, and Grace Attard, president of the National Council of Women, represents civil society, remain on the committee for another four-year term.

Mr Fava said Mr Farrugia was quoted saying that according to an agreement between the MEA, the GRTU and the government, the MEA was to represent employers on the International Labour Organisation and the GRTU on the Ecosoc. This agreement did not exist, he said.

He said that until yesterday evening, Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said had told the MEA that there was no final decision on the nominations and then they saw the stories in this morning's newspapers. The names were then confirmed by Dr Said during an MCESD meeting today, during which he said that they were decided upon by cabinet.

The MEA said that in protest, it shall not be attending meetings of the Mcesd, the Malta EU Steering Action Committee and the Employer Relations Board. It was also considering taking the matter to a European level if an agreement was not found.

It said it expected the people nominated by the MCESD to be the employers' representatives on the Ecosoc.