GWU General Secretary Tony Zarb said today that the union would work with the government on the implementation of its own proposals after the elections, and it  would insist on  election promises being kept.

Speaking at the first of a number of business breakfasts being hosted by the union to discuss its election proposals, Mr Zarb regretted that PN leader Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had not received the union's delegation when the proposals were presented to the Nationalist party whereas the leaders of both the PL and AD received the union's delegation when it called at their respective offices.

During the business breakfast, Mr Zarb explained the proposals being made by the union on the economy, including the proposal for the cost of living wage revision to be made every six months instead of every year. (See http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120709/local/gwu-lists-election-proposals.427862 )

Economist Joe Vella Bonnici, one of the speakers from the floor, underlined the need for the economy to be diversified and said that while everyone agreed that Malta should be more competitive and productivity should rise, no one was saying how. He also insisted that economic growth should be translated into improved living standards.

He said one area which Malta needed to place stronger focus on was high-end tourism.

Tony Zahra, from the MHRA, said it was very difficult to switch from mass tourism to high end tourism, especially as that would mean lower volumes when the tourism industry was built around high numbers. 

Journalist and broadcaster Godfrey Grima said transparency, accountability and efficiency should be the basis of economic growth, but all three were lacking. For example, one did not know what was happening in SmartCity. The building of Mater Dei Hospital had been used by an Austrian magazine as an example of inefficient use of public funds and poor planning. EU membership had not brought about the economic growth that one would have expected, because of Malta's 'honesty deficit'.

Sandro Chetcuti from the Developers' Association complained of excessive bureaucracy which was hindering investment. "We talk of a one stop shop, but in reality, one never stops shopping, " he said.

Michael Falzon, from the same association, expressed disagreement with a union proposal for a tax on third properties, saying this amounted to a hoarding tax. This proposal, he said, should have been better explained.

Mr Zarb said the proposal was not cast in stone and the union was ready to discuss it with the association. 

Michael Grech from Gozo Business Chamber said that Gozo needed to be considered as a separate economy with its own niches to exploit, including agri-tourism and religious tourism. He also suggested specialised courses being held by the University in Gozo to attract foreign students.