Winding up the debate on the motion to include Forum unions Maltin in MCESD on Monday, opposition spokesman on social dialogue Gino Cauchi said his was an appeal for the MCESD to become more representative and one that could benefit the Maltese society to the maximum.
He accused the government of attempting to justify its position on why it did not agree that the Forum of unions should become a member of the council in order to keep third parties happy as they were against such a development.
When the law was enacted, way back in 2001, both parties were in agreement and none had any major problems. Why was it that 10 years later, these same parties could not come to an agreement?
Mr Cauchi deplored the fact that Dr Gonzi insisted on mentioning the opposition public protest in Valletta on Friday, claiming that the Prime Minister wanted to avoid the issue. The opposition wanted to safeguard the people who were suffering as a result of the newly-imposed measures such as hikes in the price of fuel and other items.
The government was imposing various decisions on the people and not vice versa, as the government claimed the opposition was doing. This is proved, he added, by the fact that the government only went to MCESD one week after the opposition called for the people to protest against the hikes.
The social partners were not being consulted, and the hikes in diesel, petrol and gas prices were imposed without any consultation whatsoever.
Laws were proposed by the government according to the exigencies of the country and where consensus between the two sides of the House was not reached, legislation was still approved.
Mr Cauchi suggested looking at other models of operation in other countries. One of the models included the introduction of three groups – employers, unions and civil society. He emphasised that the council’s composition needed to be reorganised. If MCESD members disagreed with an increase in the number of council members, the government should nevertheless consult and take decisions, taking into consideration all the factors.
Why should not the Forum or the Gozo Business Chamber be represented on the MCESD? The government was imposing for this not to happen. The Prime Minister had said the social partners should be the ones to take this decision. Mr Cauchi observed it was the government’s responsibility to make such decisions and not the social partners.
Mr Cauchi said there was a quite a discrepancy between what was discussed in the council and what was implemented. Referring to last Friday’s meeting, he said that the impact of fuel price hikes was discussed. However, the discussions took place only after the hikes came operational.
The government had agreed with the MCESD members that by March, it would issue a report on the impact of such increases with a view to see whether there might be an energy benefit refund. He expressed concern that a refund, if any, would be given at a much later stage.
Returning to the motion, Mr Cauchi said the government had closed the shutter. Those kept out now knew who it was who was blocking them out and who was really trying to help.
Labour deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia accused the government of the denying the right of participation in the MCESD to more than 12,000 employees represented by the Forum Unions Maltin. These included teachers, nurses and other professionals.
The government was sending a negative message on union democracy and called for reports to international institutions on the right-wing policy the government was adopting towards worker representation.
Dr Farrugia claimed that the only major organisations represented in the MCESD were the GWU and the UĦM. The Forum represented many more members than the CMTU which was represented on the council, and had a right to greater representation than certain council members.
He said that this was not a matter of consensus among the social partners. Parliament had a right to legislate on the principle that there was a fair and balanced representation of the social partners in the MCESD. This could be done by amending the Act extending the number of council.
The government was hindering the process for this development. Dr Farrugia said he had expected the government to enter into dialogue with the opposition on finding a formula to amend the present legislation.
The government was also denying representation to the Gozo Business Chamber even though Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said had promised them that they would be represented in some way or another.
On a point of order, Dr Said declared that he had never promised anyone that they would be represented on the MCESD.
Continuing, Dr Farrugia said that it was time for the government to decide. The way the MCESD was composed was a farce. He asked where the government’s credibility was when it asked for the reaction of the council members when these did not have any interest in limiting the amount of authority each had in the council.
Balance had to be re-established within the MCESD to reflect developments within the trade union movement. The government was denying this right through political calculations and time manoeuvres which were stage-managed by the Prime Minister.
Families and workers were suffering because of government policy. The opposition was calling on families to participate in Friday’s national protest to make their voice heard.
Earlier, Fredrick Azzopardi (PN) said that the MCESD’s role was to advise and make recommendations to the government with regards to socio-economic issues. He recalled how two years ago the council had welcomed the Gozo regional committee in order to tackle issues specific to Gozo.
He stated that the government had never objected to the Forum being included in the council, but it believed that this inclusion should be made through consensus. If this was achieved, the government was ready to move the necessary amendments.
Mr Azzopardi said SME’s and the self-employed were the backbone of the economy. The government valued this sector and had proposed a number of initiatives and measures to improve this sector.
Certain issues were specific to Gozo and therefore a Gozitan representative in the MCESD could be of good potential. However, it was up to the members to decide whether to accept this proposal. One also had to analyse whether Gozo should be represented by the Gozo Business Chamber, the Gozo Tourism Association, Gozitan local councils or any other representative.