None of the 30 proposals submitted by the Forum were adopted in next year’s budget, presented by Finance Minister Tonio Fenech this evening.

Forum president John Bencini said that the Forum would have at least liked its proposal for the country to come in conformity with EU legislation when it came to occupational health and safety to be adopted.

He pointed out that while the minister said that the economy was doing well, he did not say how the government intended to eliminate the risk of having people living in poverty and how it was to help workers carry the burden of the rising cost of living,.

Nothing was said about the water and electricity tariffs and the maternity leave, which the Forum agreed should be extended to 20 weeks.

Mr Bencini acknowledged that the budget had delivered a number of good incentives, including those encouraging the use of electric cars and others which would benefit education.

Forum appreciated the additional €30 million being voted for education but one still had to see whether this money was enough considering the reform which had to take place. Mr Bencini said he would have liked the government to tackle the students who were not continuing with tertiary education. The Forum appreciated the support being given to private schools.

However, it was worried with the tax on accommodation and the €1.16 cost of living increase spoke for itself.

He pointed out that while the minister had spoke about the importance of dialogue with unions, the Forum was for the government a persona non-grata.

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