No proposals for the forthcoming budget have been moved by the Forum, the Finance Ministry said.
It said this was contrary to what several organisations and associations representing workers and employers had done on behalf of the people they represented.
The ministry hoped that the Forum would present its proposals so that a meeting could then be held with the ministry on its suggestions.
The government's policy was to create more and better employment for workers. The policy implemented by Labour governments between 1971 and 1987 had led to the creation of forces in which workers worked under military discipline, there was a reduction in the rights of workers, wage freezes and an unemployment record.
In the past months, when the world was going through a financial and economic crisis, the government was committed and took initiatives to safeguard jobs through different schemes and initiatives.
This led to 2,500 jobs being saved and a drop in unemployment.
Other measures were taken to increase investment and tourism and workers were also given increases through collective agreements.
These included workers represented by Forum unions.
FORUM'S STATEMENT
The forum said in a statement later this evening it was willing to submit its recommendations for the budget in writing and expected a meeting to discuss its proposals with the minister to be held as soon as possible.See also:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101015/local/forum-willing-to-ask-people-to-meet-the-government-at-the-polls