A group of some 300 former port workers this morning handed a letter to the Finance Ministry demanding payment of their share of the Pension and Contingency Fund which used to be administered by port workers, shipping agents and the government.

GWU Secretary-General Tony Zarb, who addressed the workers before they went to the ministry, said that after the recent port reform, former port workers did not benefit from the fund, to which they had contributed.

In the past, former workers used to benefit whenever reforms were made.

Around two months ago, the GWU met government officials who committed themselves to making a proposal about the matter but the pensioners had heard nothing since.

The issue, Mr Zarb said, involved some 600 workers or their heirs. At one time, the fund consisted of some €47 million. The administration of the fund is regulated by law, however, Mr Zarb said, it was not clear what had happened to it.