The FORUM group of trade unions, which includes the MUT and the MUMN has called for the top rate of income tax to be reduced to 25%.

It also called on the government to put the people before major infrastructural projects such as City Gate.

In proposals for the Budget, announced today, the group said the workers were not feeling the economic recovery which the government was boasting about.

The group said that the tax rate on overtime should be 15% for everyone, removing the anomaly which saw some taxed at 35%.

The unions called for maternity leave to be extended to 20 weeks and for two weeks of paternity leave to be introduced.

They also called for parliamentary debate on the proposed living wage and for a revision of the minimum wage.

In other proposals, the FORUM said the mechanism for calculating the cost of living adjustment needed to be revised.

The unions called for another lump sum compensation for the power,, gas and bread price increases.

They also proposed a steep increase in the taxation of luxury cars and yachts and on third homes.

In other proposals, the unions called for more investment in the health service and measures to control tax evasion.