The General Workers Union and the Gozo University Group have welcomed the draft amendments proposing representatives for Gozo, Forum Unions Maltin and civil society within the Malta Council for Social and Economic Development.

However, both the GWU and the Labour Party expressed their concern in separate statements that this amendment was one of convenience and not conviction.

On Sunday, the government announced that representatives from Gozo and from civil society will join the trade union confederation Forum on the MCESD if draft amendments to be presented in Parliament next week are approved.

The GWU expressed satisfaction at the government’s decision but hoped this decision was taken with conviction, and not convenience because of the upcoming general election.

In its 2007 proposals about an MCESD reform, the trade union was the first and only organisation that asked for the inclusion of these three organisations in the MCESD, GWU added.

In the meantime, the Opposition said the amendment, which came 15 months after the government voted against a Labour motion proposing this very revision, showed the government was acting on convenience, and not with conviction.

The Gozo University Group welcomed the news, saying such amendments provided an opportunity for better and more direct dialogue.

“The youths of Gozo are a major stakeholder in the future of the island and should always be included is the consultation and decision-making,” it said.

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