Government: Political crisis not impacting the economy - GWU disagrees

The current political situation in Malta does not appear to have had an impact on the economy, the Minister of Justice and Public Dialogue, Chris Said, said after a two-hour meeting of the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development this morning.

His view was supported by the employer organisations and most trade unions, who warned, however, that the situation must not be allowed to persist and needed to be resolved.

In contrast, GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said it was clear to the union that the crisis was having an impact. That was the feeling which workers were detecting, he said, and investors had also admitted that decisions were being put off.

Mr Zarb said he hoped that employers who claimed that the crisis was not having an impact would now not try to stall collective agreement talks.

Dr Said said the main thrust of the MCESD meeting was to discuss the local and overseas economic and financial situation.

He stressed that Malta did not have the sort of economic problems which neighbouring countries were labouring under, but constant vigilance was called for and nothing could be taken for granted, particularly as Malta had an open economy which was sensitive to developments abroad.

On the local political situation, Dr Said said such a discussion was not within the remit of the MCESD, but he had listened to the concerns raised by members. At this stage, it did nto appear that the situation had had an impact on the economy, he said, but here too, the government was monitoring the situation and would act as necessary in the national interest. 

Chamber of Commerce president Tancred Tabone, Employers Association Director General Joe Farrugia and GRTU president Paul Abela all said that the local situation was not having an economic situation, but it could not be allowed to persist. They all called for the situation to be resolved as soon as possible.