The Forum of Maltese Unions said this morning it will continue to defend free elections where the people chose and elected their representatives.

In a statement, it referred to budget proposals made by the Malta Employers’ Association, in which the MEA appealed to political parties to consider introducing a number of Parliamentary seats for technocrats, who would be given ministerial positions.

The forum asked what was behind such ‘a dangerous proposal’ that could have serious consequences.

It noted that where this system was introduced in Europe, austerity measures had started to be introduced.

Such measures included the dismantling of social protection, increased labour market flexibility, more inequalities, challenges to collective bargaining and social dialogue, lower pensions, social exclusion, downward pressure on wages and precarious work.

The forum said it also strongly opposed MEA’s suggestion that the cost-of-living allowance should be limited to workers on the minimum wage.

This would place hundreds of workers closer to the poverty line, it said.