Workers and generating safe jobs should remain the government’s focus, the constituted bodies said in their New Year’s message.

Forum, the group of 11 unions, and the Union Ħaddiema Magħqudin spoke about precarious jobs, insisting that employees should enjoy sound working conditions.

The UĦM pledged to continue working on a number of issues including the collective agreement for government employees and for people working in the private sector, more family-friendly measures and health and safety, among others.

According to Forum, next year will be full of “great challenges”.

“We have to keep on saying no to any type of austerity measures as these are unfair and contradictory,” it said.

While employees in other countries were losing their jobs, Maltese workers were being forced to fork out money for utility bills and expensive fuels, it said.

The confederation of unions, CMTU, said prudent decisions helped the country get through a “rather difficult” year.

The recent crisis in the eurozone left Europe – including Malta – in a “vulnerable” state and the CMTU said it would continue to insist on the prudent approach taken so far.

Reducing deficit levels, consolidating finances, generating new jobs, curbing public spending and investing in tourism should be given top priority, the confederation said.